Continental IceContact Extreme Review (XTRM)

Are you looking for a new set of winter tires? Well, TIRECRAFT is pleased to announce that the Continental IceContact Extreme (XTRM) tires will be added to our 2022 winter lineup. This high-quality Continental tire will serve you great this winter season, as it is built to last through Canada’s harsh weather conditions, keeping you and your passengers’ safe at all times.

The Continental IceContact XTRM has many unique features, such as inclined grooves, which are aimed at channeling water and slush away from the contact patch for optimal performance. Optimized edges in the center blocks and traction ridges in the grooves improve grip in various road conditions, especially on snow and ice. You can choose from widths ranging from 175 and 265mm, and rim diameters between 13” and 17”. This specific tire covers all sorts of car types, like smaller sport cars, coupes and sedans, minivans, mid-range cars, as well as SUV’s and light trucks. The Continental IceContact XTRM comes in a wide range of sizes as well as two flavors – regular and studded.

Tire Tests and Results

There have been many tests conducted on the IceContact XTRM, which we’ve gathered key takeaways, including some pros and cons. Pros include: the tire produced minimal noise, accounting for a comfortable and smooth ride. It offers superb handling and grip in wet, slush and ice. Accelerating and stopping are smooth and easy, and turning/handling becomes very easy as well. In turn, this inspires confidence in our drivers!

In general, the Continental IceContact XTRM is a great winter tire. It offers a considerable amount of comfort and security, which does a great job in gripping on ice. It also does a good job once the roads clear up and you need dry traction, and solid handling for your winter tires. It’s important to note that these tires are highly functioning in all types of snow and conditions, like packed snow or even light snow.

Performance of the Continental IceContact XTRM

Other reviews highlight the effectiveness of the Continental IceContact XTRM’s, mentioning how they are perfect for active drivers of a moderate or better skill who need a performance tire. Also, it is perfect for drivers who encounter more than just light snow, which is almost guaranteed living in Canada.

These tires perform exceptionally well in wet and dry cold (cleared) pavement for a winter tire. Braking is outstanding, with quality ice traction and the ability to remain reasonably quiet at highway speeds. Off-line traction is excellent, with superb cornering, braking and road feel as well. T speed rating will guarantee that the German-made IceContact XTRM covers 85% of the overall Canadian winter tire market.

Studded and Non-Studded IceContact  Extreme Review (XTRM)

When driving on ice, the studs will definitely play a noticeable role. The stud’s ability to enable understeer recovery – pulling the front end back into line when it started to slide – was great. The IceContact XTRM is winter certified (3PMS), with its profile structured for our winter conditions. Predominant main lateral grooves creates better traction in snow and enhanced slush evacuation.

The TriStar studs, produced exclusively for Continental, offer better grip compared to regular, round studs. They’re made of lightweight aluminum, and are at a length of 11mm. They’re produced by Tikka, and the tire is designed to retain each stud. The stud head then promotes stronger lateral grip on ice compared to directional studs, ultimately helping reduce road wear.

Features + Benefits

This tire is designed to improve steering response with the connected center rib and siping. The lateral grooves to get rid of slush and water are wider on the outside than in the middle, and the pockets and ridges in the sidewall provide the necessary traction you need for deep, compact snow.

Other features and benefits of the IceContact XTRM include:

Efficient groove network: dominant lateral main grooves for snow traction and slush planning

Crushed ice reservoir: crushed ice reservoir surrounding each stud optimizes the flow of ice under tread pattern for firm contact between ice and stud during braking.

Stud Retention Technology: this maximizes the connection and interaction between studs and tread pattern

Connected center rib & siping: anti-stone trapping sipes in shoulder and center blocks.

Continental has undergone many studies in concerns to the wear of the roadway with studded tires. The results of these tests/studies indicate how the smaller size spike on the tire, the less wear the roadway will have. This is opposed to the bigger sized-spikes, which has much more of an impact on the road wear. These spikes allow for better grip on icy roads, which is needed in most northern regions.

As of today, the Continental IceContact XTRM consists of over 90 sizes for 15-22-inch wheels. There is also 72 month limited warranty and roadside assistance including towing services up to 250 kilometers.

Overall, the newly introduced Continental XTRM tire will keep you satisfied this winter. If you’d like to learn more on this product, please contact your local TIRECRAFT dealer today! Our service advisors would be pleased to help you find the winter tires most suitable for your needs.

 

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