In July, Continental Tire the Americas introduced its foray into the all-terrain space at a ride and drive at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa., unveiling its new Continental TerrianContact A/T. The new tire is designed to deliver balanced on- and off-road performance for CUVs, SUVs and light trucks.
According to Joe Maher, Continental product manager for passenger and winter tires, the goal was to develop a product for the light truck and SUV owner who drives on the road but also needs off-road traction. He used the example of someone towing a boat and the importance of wet traction, but was most happy with the quiet ride achieved without sacrificing off-road functionality.
“It has road manners, with off-road durability,” Maher said.
The TerrainContact A/T features:
• An open tread pattern and large stable blocks for all-season traction and durability;
• Traction grooves with “teeth” for improved grip in the snow, gravel and mud;
• Full-depth sipes for better snow and ice traction;
• Noise blockers and pattern shifting for a quiet, comfortable ride;
• Patented silane additives to enhance grip on slippery roads and reduce stopping distances on wet pavement;
• A flat contour shape and strong tread shoulders for even road surface contact to extend tread life.
“This tire is the best balance of on- and off-road performance and is ideal for the driver who spends roughly 90% of their time on-road and 10% off-road,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for Continental. “While this is a new segment for Continental Tire, we are confident that the hours and miles we’ve invested in testing this tire will pay off. We believe consumers will be extremely happy with the off-road durability and traction while also experiencing a quiet ride on-road.”
Those “hours and miles” reference the three years that went into its engineering, development and release. According to company sources that included over 100 hours of computer simulation, 1,500 tires tested, 12,000+ hours of machine testing; and more than a million miles of machine testing. After the simulation was done, Continental went the extra mile and tested the new TerrainContact A/T design for over two million combined miles, including on- and off-road conditions.
The Terrain Contact A/T is backed by a 60-day customer satisfaction trial and road hazard coverage as well as a 72-month manufacturer’s limited warranty program. Also included is a 60,000 mile limited mileage warranty and three-year flat tire roadside assistance. The tire will be available in 35 sizes between 16- to 22-inch wheel diameters, including 20 metric sizes ranging from 16- to 22-inch wheel diameters and 15 LT metric sizes ranging from 16- to 20-inch wheel diameter.
This is the brand’s first ever all-terrain tire and will be available in stores mid-September. Continental will support its launch with consumer promotions to run Sept. 1 through Oct.15, 2016. Dealer pricing, training materials, point-of-sale assets and other materials are now available.
