Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Review: Mastering Traction in All Conditions

Introduction to the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Tire

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is an all-season touring tire designed for drivers of passenger cars, minivans, and crossovers who demand a smooth, comfortable ride along with excellent traction in wet and light winter conditions. This premium tire from the renowned German manufacturer Continental combines advanced technologies to deliver a well-balanced performance across multiple driving scenarios.

Engineered with Continental’s EcoPlus Technology, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus promotes fuel efficiency and a long tread life, making it an economical choice for drivers seeking value without compromising on safety and performance. The tire’s asymmetric tread pattern and specialized compound enhance dry and wet traction, while the inclusion of enhanced polymer grip technology ensures reliable handling on light snow and ice.

Whether you’re embarking on a long road trip or navigating through the city, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus promises a quieter and more comfortable driving experience. Its advanced construction minimizes road noise and vibrations, contributing to a serene cabin environment. With its versatile all-season capabilities, this tire is an excellent choice for drivers seeking a dependable and well-rounded performer throughout the year.

Don’t know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!

Design and Construction

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a premium touring all-season tire designed for drivers seeking a blend of comfort, performance, and year-round traction. Its advanced construction incorporates several innovative features to deliver a well-rounded driving experience.

The tire’s tread compound is formulated with a specialized silica-enhanced rubber compound that enhances grip on both dry and wet surfaces while promoting even wear and extended tread life. The asymmetric tread pattern features a continuous center rib flanked by intermediate and outer tread blocks, providing a quiet and comfortable ride while maintaining excellent handling and cornering stability.

The tire’s internal structure includes two steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon for improved strength and durability. This construction method enhances the tire’s high-speed capability and resistance to impacts and punctures, ensuring a safe and reliable ride.

The tire’s sidewall is reinforced with high-tensile steel belts, providing improved resistance to cuts, abrasions, and other potential damage. This added protection contributes to the tire’s overall durability and longevity, even under demanding driving conditions.

Continental’s advanced manufacturing processes ensure precise and consistent tire construction, ensuring optimal performance and reliability throughout the tire’s lifespan.

Diverse Performance Across Conditions

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus truly shines with its versatile performance capabilities across a wide range of driving conditions. On dry pavement, this tire delivers exceptional grip and responsive handling, allowing for precise cornering and confident maneuverability. The advanced tread compound and optimized contact patch design work in tandem to provide impressive traction and short braking distances, ensuring a secure driving experience.

However, the real strength of this tire lies in its ability to tackle wet and wintry conditions with ease. The unique siping patterns and advanced tread design channel water effectively, significantly reducing the risk of hydroplaning and enhancing wet traction. Even on snow-covered roads, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus maintains a remarkable grip, thanks to its specialized rubber compound that remains pliable in colder temperatures.

Braking performance is another area where this tire excels. The combination of advanced tread design and high-quality materials translates into shorter stopping distances, even on slippery surfaces. Whether you’re navigating through a sudden downpour or navigating icy roads, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus instills confidence with its reliable braking capabilities.

Overall, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus delivers a well-rounded performance that adapts seamlessly to changing road conditions, ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience regardless of the weather or terrain you encounter.

Noise Levels and Ride Comfort

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tires are designed to provide a smooth, comfortable ride while minimizing road noise. Many drivers have praised these tires for their quiet operation, even at higher speeds on the highway.

Real-world users have reported that the tires do an excellent job of absorbing road imperfections, resulting in a plush ride quality. The advanced tread compound and internal construction work together to dampen vibrations and minimize the transmission of road noise into the cabin.

One owner of a luxury sedan noted, “These tires have transformed my driving experience. The ride is now buttery smooth, and I can barely hear any road noise, even on rough surfaces.” Another driver of an SUV commented, “I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet these tires are. They’ve made my daily commute much more enjoyable.”

In addition to their noise-reducing capabilities, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tires are also praised for their responsive handling and strong grip, even in wet conditions. Drivers appreciate the balanced performance these tires offer, combining a comfortable ride with confident handling.

Tread Life and Durability

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is designed to deliver exceptional tread life and durability, making it an excellent choice for drivers seeking a long-lasting tire. Continental’s advanced tread compound and optimized tread design work together to minimize tread wear, ensuring that the tire maintains its performance characteristics over an extended period.

One of the key factors contributing to the tire’s impressive tread life is its advanced silica-based tread compound. This compound is engineered to resist abrasion and heat buildup, two primary causes of premature tread wear. Additionally, the tread pattern features wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that enhance traction while promoting even wear across the tread surface.

The tire’s internal construction also plays a crucial role in its overall durability. Continental employs a robust casing design with high-strength steel belts and a polyamide reinforcement layer, providing the tire with exceptional resistance to impacts and punctures. This robust construction ensures that the tire can withstand the rigors of daily driving, even on rough or debris-laden roads.

Furthermore, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is designed with a symmetric tread pattern, which promotes even wear across the entire tread surface. This feature helps to maximize the tire’s usable tread life, ensuring that drivers can enjoy consistent performance throughout the tire’s lifespan.

Overall, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a tire that excels in terms of tread life and durability, offering drivers a reliable and long-lasting solution for their vehicles.

Available Sizes, Load Ratings, and Applications

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is available in a wide range of sizes to fit most passenger vehicles, from compact cars to full-size SUVs and light trucks. The tire is offered in diameters ranging from 15 inches to 20 inches, with various width and aspect ratio options within each diameter.

Regarding load ratings, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is designed to handle the weight of most passenger vehicles comfortably. It is available in standard load (SL) and extra load (XL) variants, with the XL version capable of supporting higher vehicle weights and payloads.

In terms of recommended applications, this tire is well-suited for various types of vehicles, including sedans, coupes, minivans, crossovers, and SUVs. It is engineered to provide a comfortable and quiet ride, making it an excellent choice for daily commuting, highway driving, and long-distance travel. The all-season tread compound and design also make it suitable for use in various weather conditions, including light snow.

Compare Pricing and Value Proposition

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a premium tire aimed at the performance touring segment. Compared to mainstream touring tires from brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus sits at a higher price point. However, Continental positions this tire as offering superior performance, durability, and value over a longer service life.

When scrutinizing the pricing, it’s essential to consider the overall value proposition. While the upfront cost may be higher, Continental claims the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus can deliver up to 20% longer tread life than competing premium touring tires. This longevity can potentially offset the higher initial investment over the tire’s lifespan.

Furthermore, the advanced silica-enhanced tread compound promises exceptional wet and dry grip, along with improved rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency. The asymmetric tread pattern is engineered to provide a quiet, comfortable ride while enhancing hydroplaning resistance.

Evaluating the performance claims, independent tests and consumer reviews suggest the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus delivers on its promises. It receives high ratings for traction, handling, and wear characteristics, often outperforming rivals in its category.

For drivers seeking a premium touring tire that balances performance, comfort, and potential long-term value, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus presents a compelling option despite its higher upfront cost compared to some mainstream alternatives.

Environmental Impact and Eco-Friendly Features

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tire is designed with a focus on reducing environmental impact and promoting eco-friendly performance. One of the key features of this tire is its low rolling resistance, which translates into improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

Rolling resistance refers to the force that opposes the motion of a tire as it rolls along the road surface. Tires with lower rolling resistance require less energy to keep them moving, resulting in better fuel economy for the vehicle. Continental has employed advanced compound technologies and tread designs to minimize the rolling resistance of the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus, ensuring that it contributes to a lighter environmental footprint.

In addition to its low rolling resistance, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus incorporates eco-friendly materials in its construction. Continental has made a conscious effort to utilize sustainable and recycled materials wherever possible, reducing the tire’s reliance on virgin raw materials and minimizing its overall environmental impact.

Furthermore, the tire’s tread compound and design are optimized for enhanced tread life, ensuring that the tire can provide reliable performance over an extended period. This not only translates into cost savings for the consumer but also reduces the frequency of tire replacements, further reducing the environmental impact associated with tire manufacturing and disposal.

Overall, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tire represents a commitment to environmental responsibility, combining eco-friendly materials, low rolling resistance, and extended tread life to offer a sustainable and fuel-efficient solution for eco-conscious drivers.

Manufacturer’s Warranty and Customer Support

Continental provides a solid warranty and customer support program for its Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tires. The company offers a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is impressive for a touring all-season tire. This warranty covers any premature or irregular treadwear, ensuring that you get the most out of your investment.

In addition to the treadwear warranty, Continental also provides a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty covers any manufacturing defects that may arise during the life of the tire, giving you added peace of mind.

If you ever encounter an issue with your Control Contact Tour A/S Plus tires, Continental has a dedicated customer support team ready to assist you. You can reach out to them through various channels, including phone, email, and online chat. Their knowledgeable representatives are trained to help you with any questions or concerns you may have, whether it’s regarding warranty claims, tire maintenance, or any other issue.

Continental also offers a comprehensive website with valuable resources for tire owners. You can find detailed information about their products, tire care tips, and even a tire selector tool to help you choose the right tires for your vehicle. This commitment to customer education and support further solidifies Continental’s reputation as a brand that prioritizes customer satisfaction.

Pros and Cons of the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Tire

Pros:

• Excellent dry and wet traction due to Continental’s EcoPlus+ technology and specialized tread compound
• Impressive braking performance on both dry and wet surfaces
• Responsive steering and cornering grip inspire confidence
• Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a high-performance touring tire
• Long treadwear and enhanced durability from sturdy internal construction

Cons:

• Tread life may not match the highest mileage warranties in its category
• Limited availability in certain less common sizes and fitments
• Performance in deep snow or on ice can be improved compared to dedicated winter tires
• Costs slightly more than some competitors’ touring all-season models

Overall, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus delivers a well-rounded blend of dry/wet road performance, comfort, and treadwear for drivers of sedans, coupes, and crossovers seeking a premium touring all-season tire. While not the longest-lasting or absolute best in winter traction, its strengths in most key areas make it a compelling choice.

Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus vs Other Tire Brands

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a premium all-season tire designed for luxury touring vehicles and sports sedans. When compared to similar models from other major tire brands, it stands out in several key areas:

First and foremost, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus boasts exceptional dry and wet traction thanks to Continental’s EcoPlus+ Technology. This advanced silica-enhanced tread compound provides superior grip on both dry and wet roads, outperforming many competitors in this regard. The asymmetric tread pattern also enhances handling and cornering stability.

Another area where the Continental tire excels is ride comfort. Its polyamide reinforcement layers and optimized sidewall construction work together to deliver a smooth, quiet ride, even at higher speeds. Many drivers report a noticeable improvement in comfort compared to their previous tires.

In terms of treadwear and durability, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus holds its own against other premium all-season tires. Continental’s proprietary Tg-F polymers and +Silane additives help extend the tire’s lifespan, ensuring a longer tread life and better value for money.

While not the most affordable option on the market, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus justifies its higher price tag with its exceptional performance, comfort, and longevity. When compared to similar offerings from brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear, it often comes out on top in independent tests and reviews.

Overall, for drivers seeking a high-performance all-season tire that delivers outstanding grip, a smooth ride, and long-lasting treadwear, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a compelling choice that outshines many of its competitors.

Final Verdict and Recommendation

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is an excellent choice for drivers seeking a high-performance all-season tire that delivers exceptional grip, handling, and ride comfort. With its advanced compound and tread design, this tire excels in both dry and wet conditions, ensuring a confident and controlled driving experience.

For those living in regions with moderate winter weather, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus provides reliable traction on light snow and ice, making it a versatile option for year-round use. However, if you frequently encounter severe winter conditions, a dedicated winter tire may be a better choice.

Overall, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a premium tire that offers a compelling blend of performance, comfort, and durability. Its responsive handling and impressive tread life make it a worthwhile investment for drivers who prioritize safety and enjoyment behind the wheel. If you’re in the market for a high-quality all-season tire, the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is definitely worth considering.