Continental Contact 4x4
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From: Connecticut
Continental Contact 4x4
Any experience with this tire? I am looking at 275 40 20 for use as all season/ winter. The seller has given me these specs and claims it is an all season tire but I can;t even find such a tire on continental's website.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Pepper Bartender
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From: Alabama USA
Originally Posted by gaurang
Any experience with this tire? I am looking at 275 40 20 for use as all season/ winter. The seller has given me these specs and claims it is an all season tire but I can;t even find such a tire on continental's website. thanks in advance
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: SW Colorado
First off, you can not compare how the 18" wheel/tire combos act in comparison to the 20" sets. My car came with the 20" Michelin Diamaris. I only got 11k miles from them and they were really loud near the end. I have about 5k miles on the 20" Conti Sport Contacts and already like them better.
I wouldn't count on decent winter traction from ANY of the summer tires. I do believe that there is a winter tire now available in 275/40-20. To my knowledge there is no "all-season" 20" tire for this car. If you want snow traction you need to buy snow tires. If you want a decent all-season tire you need to go to the 18" wheel size. These are the compromises you get when you try to make a big heavy suv perform like a sports car. There is no cheap way to do everything well. Porsches are about extremes, VW makes a version more suited to all-season tires
I wouldn't count on decent winter traction from ANY of the summer tires. I do believe that there is a winter tire now available in 275/40-20. To my knowledge there is no "all-season" 20" tire for this car. If you want snow traction you need to buy snow tires. If you want a decent all-season tire you need to go to the 18" wheel size. These are the compromises you get when you try to make a big heavy suv perform like a sports car. There is no cheap way to do everything well. Porsches are about extremes, VW makes a version more suited to all-season tires
Pepper Bartender
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From: Alabama USA
Originally Posted by Brent 89-GT
First off, you can not compare how the 18" wheel/tire combos act in comparison to the 20" sets. My car came with the 20" Michelin Diamaris. I only got 11k miles from them and they were really loud near the end. I have about 5k miles on the 20" Conti Sport Contacts and already like them better.
... I think you can compare them.. Michelin actually patented the assembly and manufacturing process of tires.. basically they put two halves together where as most other manufacturers put tires together in quarters.. I can't find evidence of it on the web.. but someone did say that they thought Michelin's patent had expired and now other tire manufacturers can manufacture similarly.. However, in reading the posts about 18, 19, and 20 (don't think but a few manf. do 22").. I have concluded that Michelin complaints are far fewer than bridgestone, continental and pirelli - regardless of size.. And your low mileage on your Michelins (relatively) may be entirely due to your driving style (fast and aggressive). I do mostly interstate in my Cayenne.. so I get more miles.. but I'd be surprised if your Conti's last as long as the Michelins (let us know) and when you get towards the end of the life (in my experience) you may find that the thumping and tire noise is far worse than the Michelins.. Just my opinion Brent, but yes SIZE MATTERS (ha) but the manufacturer also does too!
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Just replaced my OEM supplied 20" Continentals at 47K miles.
I do have a set of 18" OEM winter tires/wheels, so I would guess that I got 35K+ miles off of my 20" Continentals (and that was with quite a bit of towing).
I do have a set of 18" OEM winter tires/wheels, so I would guess that I got 35K+ miles off of my 20" Continentals (and that was with quite a bit of towing).
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: San Clemente, CA
I have 20" Conti Sport Contacts at 22K miles with a little bit of tread left before they hit the wear bars. No problems and no complaints. However these are not winter tires. Expect your car to handle like a bar of soap with these tires (and any other summer tire) in the snow.
For snow you will need either mud and snow tires or winter tires. Both are difficult if not impossible to find for your 20" wheels. Some of us have a set of 18" wheels dedicated to our winter and off-road tires.
For snow you will need either mud and snow tires or winter tires. Both are difficult if not impossible to find for your 20" wheels. Some of us have a set of 18" wheels dedicated to our winter and off-road tires.
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Pepper Bartender
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From: Alabama USA
Originally Posted by ltc
Just replaced my OEM supplied 20" Continentals at 47K miles.
I do have a set of 18" OEM winter tires/wheels, so I would guess that I got 35K+ miles off of my 20" Continentals (and that was with quite a bit of towing).
I do have a set of 18" OEM winter tires/wheels, so I would guess that I got 35K+ miles off of my 20" Continentals (and that was with quite a bit of towing).
Last edited by madfoxcays; Aug 4, 2005 at 03:12 PM.
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Track Day
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Arizona
So Lewis holds the record at one end, I think I'm a contender on the other end of the spectrum.. I'm on my 3rd set of Bridgestones in 20K (and getting ready for the next set, obviously not Bridgestones this time around)..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: SW Colorado
I think there is somebody on the forum running a 20" Pirelli on and off the track that got incredible milage from them, over 30k if I am not mistaken.
I am one that has a set of 18's for winter in addition to the 20's for summer. This is really the only good answer to winter traction if you have stock 19 or 20" rims.
madfoxcays, I have noticed little consensus on which tires last or perform the best on these cars. Seems to be all over the spectrum. I do think that the larger the rim diameter, the tougher it is to get decent wear and balancing from them. I think I have seen a yea and nea for every tire we have to choose from. I just didn't feel I got much from the original Michelins. For that reason I switched this time. I suspect I will be switching again soon enough, in search of a better balance, or mostly longer wear. I'm not sure there is a perfect answer right now, just stating "the other side" if you will.
I am one that has a set of 18's for winter in addition to the 20's for summer. This is really the only good answer to winter traction if you have stock 19 or 20" rims.
madfoxcays, I have noticed little consensus on which tires last or perform the best on these cars. Seems to be all over the spectrum. I do think that the larger the rim diameter, the tougher it is to get decent wear and balancing from them. I think I have seen a yea and nea for every tire we have to choose from. I just didn't feel I got much from the original Michelins. For that reason I switched this time. I suspect I will be switching again soon enough, in search of a better balance, or mostly longer wear. I'm not sure there is a perfect answer right now, just stating "the other side" if you will.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: la la land | comin' back soon nyc
Originally Posted by madfoxcays
I would not recommend. Worst wear/vibration of the three tires that I've had. ...Beware!
ditto.... (personally i've had bad luck w/ conti's) not that i've had 'em on the suv (or that i ever would). had terrible noise probs the w/ conti-sports on the
986 starting early on... not to mention terrible/scary lack of traction in the wet.
- just my 2.
