Continental IceContact Extreme Studded (XTRM)

Are you looking for extra grip in your winter tires? Tired of a lack of traction? Thankfully, TIRECRAFT has got you covered this winter season, with the newly introduced Continental IceContact Extreme (XTRM) Studded tires. This high quality, innovative winter tire is designed to keep you and your passenger’s safe at all times, with improved traction and braking and enhanced grip on ice.

The IceContact XTRM tires are offered in both studded and non-studded versions. Studs allow for greater grip on ice, and improve traction even on hard snow-pack and frozen gravel. It’s a T-rated modern design suited for Canada’s coldest months, whether or not you can legally run studs.

In Ontario, studded tires are allowed between the months September through May, but only for vehicles that are registered in Northern Ontario. This includes regions like Thunder Bay, Parry Sound, Nipissing, Manitoulin, Kenora and more.

The Continental IceContact XTRM has TriStar cleats, providing better grip on ice in all directions, compared to standard round cleats. Also, there is a stud retention technology which uses a coating that gives up to four times stronger support, and roughly 5% more grip on ice! Studded tires offer significantly more traction than traditional winter rubber can, and they are especially suitable if you live near the coast, where roads tend to get icy during the winters. Non-studded tires are a good choice for snowy roads.

Their shorter studs allow more of the tire to remain in contact with the surface of the road, which give the tire a superior road feel leading to increased driving confidence. The studs enable superior understeer recovery, pulling the front end back in line when it starts to slide.

IceContact XTRM Studded Tire Options

Most existing studded tire options are only available in a small number of sizes, but the Continental IceContact XTRM offers the tires in a wide range of performance-oriented applications. They’re offered from 15-through 22-inch diameters, in both standard and studded, covering almost everything from A3s to 911s.

Benefits of the Continental IceContact Extreme (XTRM) Studded

The 11-millimetre studs, produced by Tikka, uses a three-pointed star design for maximum grip when braking, cornering and accelerating. The Continental studded tires are also significantly quieter than the traditional studded tire, which is definitely a beneficial feature to our product. Other benefits include: dominant lateral grooves show snow traction and slush planning, crushed ice reservoirs surrounding each stud, which optimizes the flow of ice under the tread pattern.

Large surface area for stud fixing allows for optimal distribution of weight between the stud and the ice, providing greater safety and driving comfort. The studs contribute to shorter braking distances, optimal handling and better grip on ice. The highly structured design of the IceContact XTRM includes nine side elements, with a large amount of grooves, providing excellent handling and the ability to resist hydroplaning.

The winter certified (3PMS) tires have been tested for acceleration on medium-packed snow, containing predominant main lateral groves for greater traction and enhanced slush evacuation. The IceContact XTRM targets a large range of vehicles, from full-size compact cars, to pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, making them widely universal.

Studded Tires vs. Non-Studded Tires

In general, winter tires have a shorter life span compared to summer tires. Studs in studded tires are designed to wear at more or less the same rate as the tread to ensure even performance. Stud-less tires, on the other hand, usually see reduced performance after a couple seasons as the softer-material rubber compound wears away, and harder underlying components are surfaced.

Tires that are studded by the manufacturer are, in most cases, of better quality. They provide superior performance, increased durability, and a quieter ride, due to their particular shape that optimizes contact with the road. The studs in those tires offer more traction and a smoother ride.

Design of the Studded IceContact XTRM

The tread design and the unique studding technology assures above-average traction on icy roads, and great handling response on snow. Technical experts noted that the tire’s noise emission was also significantly reduced. The Continental IceContact (XTRM) has a V-shaped tread pattern, as well as a connected center rib and siping made to improve steering response.

On the studded tire, each stud is surrounded by an ‘ice reservoir’ which helps maintain performance. XTRM uses aluminum stud bodies and a TriStar head, and before insertion, studs receive a chemical coating. Then, an additional curing process forms a chemical bond between the stud body and the surrounding tire compound. There is around 130 studs within the tread, with this number being determined by a computer analysis to balance the maximum number of stud rows with the lowest possible tire-road noise.

Nonetheless, if you drive more on ice compared to snowy roads in winter, studded tires are the choice for you. Please keep in mind the legal restrictions on where and when you can use studded tires, and drive safe! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local TIRECRAFT dealer today. We are more than happy to help!

 

 

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