Continental Wins Back-to-Back Summer Tyre Tests, High Risk Exposed with Cheap Tyres

The Continental ContiSportContact 5, the brand’s multiple award-winning performance tyre, has dominated two back-to-back 2016 summer tyre tests in Germany.

The first test was conducted by Germany’s independent Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung (GTÜ), and the second by motoring publication Autozeitung – both featuring the popular 225/45 R17 tyre size.

In the GTÜ test, a BMW 118d was used at Bridgestone’s proving ground in Rome. A total of 11 products were tested from the industry’s mainstream brands, as well as three cheap offerings from the Far East, covering a price range from 210 to 430 Euros.

Although the ContiSportContact 5 faced off against several brand new rivals from its premium segment competitors, Continental emerged as the clear winner, scoring a total of 278 out of a possible 300 points – 11 points clear of a recently launched competitor tyre that finished runner-up.

Enhancing Continental’s well-earned reputation for best-in-class braking, the ContiSportContact 5 scored maximum points in wet and dry braking from 100 km/h, as well as in the wet and dry handling tests, driving-by noise assessment, and in the subjective driving safety evaluations.

The ContiSportContact 5 was equally impressive in the Autozeitung tests, with the report highlighting its outstanding wet and dry braking performance, responsive steering, superior grip and firm lateral guidance in fast corners. “Extremely good grip in the wet and always safe: In this test, the Conti tyre is far and away the best,” the editorial team wrote.

“The ContiSportContact 5 is a superb performance tyre that delivers outstanding handling and control,” says Niel Langner, the marketing manager for Continental Tyre South Africa. “It is a top choice for high-performance and luxury vehicles, with excellent road grip and short braking distances in all conditions.”

While Continental was the undisputed winner in both instances, the two independent tests also put cheap Asian tyres under the spotlight. In the GTÜ evaluation, the three cheap offerings from Chinese manufacturers were the worst performers in the test by a significant margin – scoring between 172 and 185 points overall.

According to the GTÜ experts, one of the Chinese tyres scored zero for wet braking, requiring a startling 66,9 metres to stop from 100 km/h, while the others didn’t fare much better. They also achieved the lowest scores in the subjective driving safety evaluations, in both dry and wet conditions.

The test team from Autozeitung was equally dismissive of the budget tyres from Asian manufacturers. All of the bottom three tyres in the rating were from this segment, and were sharply criticised for their poor performance in the wet.

“Many motorists simply don’t realise the critical role that tyres play in driving safety, and particularly in terms of emergency braking,” Langner commented.

“Although motorists are feeling the pinch in terms of disposable income, there should never be a compromise when it comes to tyres, regardless of the type of car you drive. It can make the difference between avoiding a collision, or becoming yet another road accident statistic.”

Globally, around 1,2 million people are killed in traffic collisions annually.

Although driving habits are an important contributing factor, the roadworthiness of the vehicle and, crucially, the condition of its tyres, play a fundamental role in contributing towards overall driving safety.