Continental Tires Review: Are They Worth It?

After spending nearly two years and over 15,000 miles testing Continental tires across different vehicles, seasons, and road conditions — from wet Ohio highways to dry Texas interstates — I have a lot to say. And none of it sounds like a press release.

Why I Decided to Test Continental Tires

I’ll be honest — I didn’t wake up one day and decide to become a tire guy. It started when my 2019 Toyota Camry’s stock Michelin Primacy tires wore out at around 48,000 miles and I had to make a replacement decision fast.

I’d been running this blog for three years covering tire reviews, and I had a handful of brands I trusted. Continental was on my list, but I’d never gone deep on them for daily-driver cars.

So I committed. I put the Continental TrueContact Tour on my Camry, got a set of ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus installed on my buddy’s Volkswagen GTI (he let me drive it extensively in exchange for free tire advice — great deal), and my wife’s Honda CR-V got the CrossContact LX25.

Over the course of about 18 months, I tracked everything: handling feel, road noise at highway speeds, wet and dry braking distances, how they behaved in the first Ohio snowfall, and long-haul comfort on a road trip from Columbus to Nashville.

Here’s everything I found, broken down the way I’d want to read it.

A Quick Word on Continental as a Brand

Continental AG is a German company, founded in 1871. They’re not just a tire company — they’re one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world.

Their tire division has a long history of OEM contracts with Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and others, which matters because OEM manufacturers are notoriously demanding about quality standards.

In the US market, Continental tires are primarily manufactured at their plant in Mount Vernon, Illinois, which they’ve been expanding over the years. That domestic production does help with consistency and supply chain reliability, two things that have mattered a lot post-2020.

They’re not Michelin. They’re not Bridgestone. But they compete directly with both, and in some categories, I’d argue they win.

Continental TrueContact Tour Review — My Daily Driver Pick

This is the tire I have the most seat time with, and it’s the one I’d recommend to the majority of American drivers without hesitation.

What It’s Built For

The TrueContact Tour is a grand touring all-season tire. Continental markets it for coupes, sedans, minivans, and smaller crossovers. It’s not a performance tire — it’s designed to be comfortable, quiet, fuel-efficient, and long-lasting. The warranty is 80,000 miles, which is class-leading for this category.

Dry Performance

On dry pavement, the TrueContact Tour handles predictably and confidently. Cornering is not where this tire shines — it’s not trying to be sporty.

But it tracks straight beautifully on the highway, responds well to steering inputs, and braking is short and consistent. I did an informal braking test from 60 mph on a dry stretch of empty industrial road and was satisfied with what I felt. It’s not the snappiest tire, but it inspires confidence.

Wet Performance — Where It Gets Interesting

This is where Continental distinguishes itself. Their proprietary Traction Compound technology is designed specifically for wet braking, and I felt it immediately.

The first time I had to brake hard in moderate Ohio rain, the Camry stopped noticeably better than it did on the worn Michelins. Hydroplaning resistance is also excellent — the lateral grooves evacuate water effectively even at highway speeds.

I deliberately drove through some standing water on a back road to test this, something I’d encourage you to try carefully if you want a real-world read on your tires. The TrueContact Tour held its line cleanly and didn’t start to float until I pushed well past what any sensible driver would do on a public road.

Winter / Snow Performance

Here’s where I’ll manage expectations. This is not a snow tire. If you live in Buffalo or Minneapolis and deal with consistent lake-effect snow or packed ice, you need dedicated winter tires — full stop.

But for the occasional light snow that most of the US Midwest and South deals with, the TrueContact Tour performs adequately.

I drove it through two Ohio winters with light-to-moderate snowfall and felt safe, though cautious. It has the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating, which means it meets a minimum threshold for severe snow traction.

I won’t pretend it’s a Blizzak. It’s not. But for all-season drivers in regions without extreme winters, it’s more than capable.

Road Noise and Comfort

This is where the TrueContact Tour genuinely excels. It is one of the quietest tires I have driven on, period. On the highway at 70 mph, interior noise was barely noticeable. Over expansion joints and rough patches, it absorbs bumps with a composure I didn’t expect from a mid-price tire. Long highway drives were noticeably more relaxing than with the previous tires.

Tread Life

At 15,000 miles, I still have significant tread depth remaining on the Camry set. Based on my wear rate projections, I’m confident this set will reach or exceed the 80,000-mile warranty. I rotate every 6,000–7,000 miles, which Continental recommends.

Pricing and Value

In the US market, the TrueContact Tour typically runs $130–$165 per tire for common sedan sizes like 215/55R17 or 225/50R17. That’s mid-range pricing. When you divide the cost by the expected lifespan, the cost-per-mile calculation is genuinely competitive — better than many cheaper tires that wear faster.

My Rating: 4.6 / 5 — Slight knock for winter performance compared to specialized tires; otherwise nearly perfect for most American drivers.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus Review — For the Drivers

If you drive something with some power behind it — a muscle car, sports sedan, hot hatch, or pony car — this is the Continental tire you want to be looking at. I had extensive time in a friend’s VW GTI on these, and I also tested them on a neighbor’s Ford Mustang GT for a weekend.

What It’s Built For

The DWS06 Plus is an ultra-high-performance all-season (UHPAS) tire. The DWS in the name stands for Dry, Wet, Snow — Continental’s way of promising you versatility without sacrificing performance. It’s designed for drivers who want real grip but don’t want to swap tires twice a year.

Dry Performance — Remarkable

On dry pavement, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is in another league compared to the TrueContact Tour. The GTI felt sharper, more planted, and more communicative through corners.

Grip at the limit is genuinely impressive — not track-day impressive, but it’s the kind of tire that makes spirited back-road driving feel planted and safe rather than sketchy.

Braking from 70 mph in dry conditions felt extremely short. I didn’t measure it with instruments, but the subjective feel was noticeably stronger than the all-season touring tires I’ve compared it to.

Wet Performance — Among the Best I’ve Tested

In wet conditions, the DWS06 Plus is outstanding. Continental uses their SportPlus Technology for optimized wet braking, and it shows. On a rainy stretch of Ohio Route 3, the GTI had remarkable composure through standing water, and emergency braking felt confident and predictable.

I’ve tested Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S in this category. The Continental is competitive with both — I’d give the wet edge to the Michelin by a hair, but in real-world driving conditions, the difference is minor.

Snow Performance

Here’s the most impressive thing about the DWS06 Plus: for a performance tire, it’s shockingly capable in snow. The GTI (front-wheel drive) handled our first January snowfall with a composure I didn’t expect. It also carries the 3PMSF rating, and it earns it more convincingly than most UHP all-seasons I’ve driven.

That said — again — if you’re in serious snow country, go winter tires. But for the performance driver who doesn’t want to deal with two sets, the DWS06 Plus is as close to a viable all-year solution as you’ll find.

Ride Comfort and Noise

Trade-offs exist here. Compared to the TrueContact Tour, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is noisier and firmer. That’s expected — you’re buying grip and handling, not cushion. On the highway, there’s a moderate drone, particularly between 60–75 mph. It’s not offensive, but it’s noticeable.

On broken pavement and potholes, the DWS06 Plus transmits more road information to the cabin. Enthusiast drivers tend to like this — it’s feedback. Regular commuters might prefer something softer.

Pricing

In common performance sizes like 245/40R18 or 225/45R17, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus runs $160–$200+ per tire. It’s a premium tire, and it commands a premium price. But compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 (which often runs $20–$40 more per tire), it’s genuinely competitive value for the performance delivered.

My Rating: 4.7 / 5 — One of the best UHPAS tires available for the money in the US market. Minor dock for highway noise.

Continental CrossContact LX25 Review — For SUV and Crossover Drivers

More Americans drive SUVs and crossovers than any other vehicle type, and the CrossContact LX25 is Continental’s answer to that market. My wife’s Honda CR-V has been running these since last spring, and I’ve logged plenty of miles as a passenger and behind the wheel.

What It’s Built For

The CrossContact LX25 is an all-season touring tire designed for CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. It replaces the older CrossContact LX20, with improvements in wet traction and ride quality. It’s positioned as a comfortable, capable, efficient tire — not a performance product, and not an off-road tire.

Dry and Wet Performance

In dry conditions, the LX25 handles the CR-V exactly as I’d want: predictable, stable, reassuring. It doesn’t feel like a high-performance tire, nor should it. For everyday errands, highway driving, and the occasional winding back road, it’s more than adequate.

Wet traction is where this tire impresses for the category. The CrossContact LX25 uses Continental’s EvenContact Technology for uniform wear, and the tread pattern does an excellent job channeling water away from the contact patch. In the rain, the CR-V feels settled and calm — better than the OEM Bridgestone Ecopia tires it replaced, in my opinion.

Fuel Economy

One thing I noticed: my wife’s CR-V showed a slight improvement in highway fuel economy after switching to the LX25. This is consistent with Continental’s claims about low rolling resistance in this tire. It’s not a dramatic change — we’re talking fractions of an MPG — but it’s measurable over time, especially with current gas prices.

Winter Capability

Like the TrueContact Tour, the LX25 carries the 3PMSF rating and performs adequately in light snow. In our testing through a mild Ohio winter, the CR-V felt confident and controllable in 2–4 inches of packed snow. In deeper snow or ice, however, dedicated winter rubber will always be safer.

Tread Life and Warranty

The CrossContact LX25 comes with a 70,000-mile tread warranty, which is solid for a CUV tire. Based on the wear rate I’ve observed after 8,000 miles on the CR-V, I’m projecting this set will meet or exceed that warranty with proper rotation and inflation maintenance.

Pricing

The CrossContact LX25 runs approximately $140–$175 per tire for popular CUV sizes like 225/65R17 or 235/60R18. It’s priced similarly to the Michelin Defender2 and Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady — fair competition for the category.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5 — Excellent all-around SUV tire. Slight wish for better deep-snow performance, but that’s more about the category than the tire.

How Continental Compares to the Competition

A review without context isn’t very useful. Here’s how Continental stacks up against the brands I most commonly compare them to:

Continental vs. Michelin: Michelin generally wins on brand prestige and sometimes tread life, but Continental often closes the gap significantly — at a lower price point. The TrueContact Tour vs. Michelin Defender2 is a close race. I give the Defender2 a slight edge in longevity; the TrueContact Tour wins on highway quietness.

Continental vs. Bridgestone: Bridgestone offers excellent tires at a range of price points. The Turanza QuietTrack is a strong competitor to the TrueContact Tour, but in my experience, the Continental edges it in wet performance. The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus clearly outperforms the Bridgestone Potenza S007A in snow without sacrificing too much dry grip.

Continental vs. Goodyear: Goodyear’s Assurance WeatherReady is arguably the best all-season in the value-mid tier for snow capability. For pure snow-weather versatility, I’d pick the WeatherReady over the TrueContact Tour. But if snow isn’t your primary concern, Continental wins on highway comfort and quietness.

Continental vs. Cooper (now part of Goodyear): Cooper offers budget-friendly tires that are solid performers, but they don’t match Continental’s refinement in ride quality or wet traction at comparable price points.

Who Should Buy Continental Tires?

Based on everything I’ve tested and experienced, here’s how I’d match Continental tires to real-world needs:

Get the TrueContact Tour if: You drive a car, minivan, or smaller crossover, prioritize a quiet and comfortable ride, want long tread life, and live in a region with mild-to-moderate winter weather. This is the tire for most American car owners.

Get the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus if: You drive a performance car or sport sedan, enjoy spirited driving, want the best possible wet grip in an all-season, and don’t want to swap to dedicated winter tires. It’s also an outstanding choice for drivers in the South or Pacific Northwest who see rain more than snow.

Get the CrossContact LX25 if: You drive an SUV or crossover, want better fuel economy and a quieter ride than typical truck-rated tires, and want a comfortable tire that can handle occasional light snow.

Consider waiting if: You live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, upper Michigan, or anywhere with serious, consistent lake-effect or mountain snow. In those climates, dedicated winter tires should be on your radar for the cold months, regardless of which all-season you run the rest of the year.

Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Continental Tires

After two years with these tires, here are the habits that have made the biggest difference:

Tire pressure matters more than most people realize. I check mine every two weeks with a digital gauge. Under-inflated tires wear unevenly, kill fuel economy, and degrade handling — all the things Continental engineers worked to prevent. Check your door jamb sticker for the correct pressure for your vehicle, not the number printed on the tire sidewall.

Rotate regularly. Continental recommends rotation every 5,000–7,500 miles. I do mine at every other oil change. This alone is the single biggest factor in whether you hit that 70,000–80,000-mile warranty.

Buy from an authorized dealer. Continental tires bought from reputable US retailers (Discount Tire, America’s Tire, Tire Rack, Costco, Walmart) come with the full manufacturer warranty. Be cautious of third-party marketplace sellers — counterfeit tires are a real problem in the US market, and Continental does not honor warranties on unauthorized products.

Don’t mix tire lines. I’ve seen people run two TrueContact Tours on the front and two random tires on the back. That’s a handling nightmare waiting to happen. When you replace, do it in axle pairs at minimum, full sets ideally.

Common Complaints I’ve Heard — And Whether They’re Valid

“Continental tires are overpriced.” Partially true in some size combinations. In mainstream sedan and CUV sizes, they’re competitive with Michelin and Goodyear. Where pricing gets steep is in wide, low-profile performance sizes. If budget is a constraint, look at the General Altimax RT45 — it’s Continental’s sister brand and uses similar technology at a lower price point.

“They’re not good in snow.” Valid for the TrueContact Tour and CrossContact LX25 in extreme conditions. Not valid for the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, which performs remarkably well in snow for a performance tire. Know what you’re buying and set appropriate expectations.

“The ride gets harsh after a few years.” I’ve heard this anecdotally but haven’t experienced it at 15,000 miles. I’ll update this review at 30,000 miles with a long-term assessment.

“Noise gets worse as they wear.” Some tire noise increase with wear is universal. On the TrueContact Tour, I’ve noticed very little change in noise levels from new to 15,000 miles. Not a concern at this stage.

Final Verdict

Continental is a tire brand I now actively recommend, something I don’t say lightly. After two years of real-world testing — not just a few miles on a press fleet vehicle — I’m confident in the consistency and quality of their main product lines.

The TrueContact Tour is my go-to recommendation for the majority of American drivers replacing tires on a sedan, wagon, or small CUV. The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is one of the best ultra-high-performance all-seasons available in the US market period. And the CrossContact LX25 is a thoughtful, well-engineered option for the SUV majority of the American market.

None of these tires are perfect — winter performance has limits, and the DWS06 Plus is not the quietest option. But the combination of wet traction, ride quality, tread life, and price-per-mile value puts Continental firmly in the top tier.

If you’re in the market for new tires right now and Continental fits your vehicle and size, I’d say get a quote. Discount Tire and Tire Rack both carry them and will price-match in most cases. At the pricing I’ve seen in 2025, they’re genuinely hard to beat for what you get.

Have you run Continental tires? Drop your experience in the comments below — especially if you’ve driven them in more extreme winter conditions than I have. I’d love to include more geographic perspectives in a future update to this review.

This review reflects the personal experience and testing of the author over approximately 18 months of real-world driving across multiple vehicles. No compensation was received from Continental AG or any tire retailer for this review. Tire pricing mentioned reflects typical US retail pricing as of early 2025 and may vary by region and retailer.