All-terrain tires make any truck tougher and more rugged. Just as low-profile summer tires give performance cars a serious appearance, a set of tall, chunky all-terrains look the absolute business on a lifted 4×4. What often goes unsaid are the inevitable downgrades in comfort, efficiency, and noise in exchange for an all-terrain’s added visual drama. That’s unacceptable for a daily-driven SUV or crossover. But what if you desire the occasional weekend jaunt on a light trail—where a normal all-season tire might falter—while preserving your SUV’s on-road manners? It’s possible with a special all-terrain tire like the Continental TerrainContact A/T.
For true off-road capability, the TerrainContact A/T has large tread blocks and sipes that extend into the sidewall for improved traction on gravel, grass, and dirt. Sidewall moldings that look like dozens of teeth help the TerrainContact A/T find additional grip when the sidewalls are rubbing against the edge of a narrow trail. Continental’s TractionPlus Technology adds silane, which bonds silica to the rubber polymers in the tread, that delivers superior wet traction when compared to the carbon black used in conventional tires. The greater concentration of silica, along with variably-sized tread blocks, reduces the hums and vibrations that accompany other all-terrain tires. Customers report the TerrainContact A/T is among the quietest all-terrain tires and rivals the smooth and controlled ride of an all-season tire.
In Continental’s testing, the TerrainContact A/T offers best-in-class wet braking when compared to the Michelin LTX A/T2, Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, and Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 2. This isn’t a hot-air claim. Continental pioneered the Automated Indoor Braking Analyzer, a special test rig at its Contidrom testing headquarters in Germany, that conducts 100,000 braking tests per year in an all-weather indoor facility. Driverless test vehicles accelerate up to 71 mph and use robotics to stop them and record data in the dry, wet, and on ice. That’s after two years of computer simulations before a single prototype tire comes off the production line. The Continental Tire Uvalde Proving Grounds in the United States and northern Sweden further cement the company’s commitment to quality.
“Extensive testing is crucial to assessing the performance of our tires. And also to ensure high quality and safety,” says Martin Welzhofer, Head of Global Tire Testing at Continental Tires.
For casual off-roading with the compliance and relaxed composure of a street tire, the TerrainContact A/T is bound to satisfy all but the most extreme 4×4 enthusiasts. Continental backs the TerrainContact A/T with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty—which most A/T-designated tires don’t even offer—along with a 60-day trial that lets customers return lightly-used tires for free in exchange for another set of Continental tires. The Total Confidence Plan is also part of every new purchase, which includes a one-year defect warranty, one year of free replacements for road hazards, roadside assistance and towing up to 150 miles, and trip interruption coverage.A total of 22 passenger car sizes, as well as 15 light-truck sizes, are available in wheel diameters from 16 to 22 inches in a choice of black sidewall or outlined white letters. For off-road style, genuine off-road capability, and street-friendly performance, the TerrainContact A/T is a best-of-all-worlds choice for your next set of tires.