Continental IceContact 3

The Continental IceContact 3 is a Premium Touring Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

This tire replaced the Continental IceContact 2.

Dry Grip 85%
Wet Grip 75%
Road Feedback 80%
Handling 80%
Wear 50%
Comfort 65%
Buy again 55%
Snow Grip 90%
Ice Grip 60%

Tire review data from 2 tire reviews averaging 71% over 13,500 miles driven.

The IceContact 3 is unranked of 65 Winter Premium Touring tires.

In Depth Tire Comparisons

Latest Tire Test Results

2023 Studded Tire Test - 5th of 8 tires

  • Overall - Continental has failed at the most important aspect for a studded tire: achieving grip on ice. The stopping distance on ice lags far behind other premium brands. Despite having the highest price, the tire's braking performance is on par with Goodride and is only marginally better than a used tire.
    However, the IceContact 3 communicates well with the driver about where the grip limit is and remains controllable when traction is about to be lost. This safe and easy-to-control behavior is consistent across all surfaces.
    Continental scores the most points in the asphalt categories with a nice driving feel, good stability during evasive maneuvers, and low noise. But with a high price and poor ice grip, it's difficult to recommend the tire to anyone, regardless of driving type.
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2022 Studded Winter Tire Test - 5th of 8 tires

  • Positive - Aquaplaning, noise, easy to handle under pressure.
  • Negative - Ice grip, extended braking distances on all surfaces.
  • Overall - Continental has not quite got it right with "IC3". The general level of grip is a bit behind other premium brands in the price class on almost all surfaces. Above all, the IC3 lags behind in the corners, which is a big minus for a studded tire. However, the tire communicates well with the driver about where the grip limit is, which combined with a neutral balance makes the tire safe and predictable in the curves with a slightly understeer character. Highlights are the aquaplaning properties as well as good noise level for being a studded tire. The studs, which are vulcanized into the tire, show minimal movement throughout the test. Here, the studs are securely fastened! Often in the lower half of the semi-rounds gives a fifth place overall.
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2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test - 5th of 8 tires

  • Overall - Overall rating 8.4. Features on ice and snow- Safe driving on snow- Stops effectively on snow- Moderate ice grip. Properties on asphalt- Excellent lateral grip on wet- Weakest dry grip- Weakest extreme behavior
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2023 Tire Tests

  • 5th: 2023 Studded Tire Test (225/45 R17)

    • 2022 Tire Tests

  • 5th: 2022 Studded Winter Tire Test (235/55 R18)

    • 2021 Tire Tests

  • 5th: 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test (205/55 R16)
  • 6th: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test (205/55 R16)

    • 2020 Tire Tests

  • 1st: 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test (205/55 R16)
  • 1st: The Best Winter Tires for 2020 (205/55 R16)
  • 2nd: 2020 Studded Winter Tire Test (205/60 R16)

    • 2019 Tire Tests

  • 1st: 2019 Studded Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)

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    Latest Continental IceContact 3 Reviews

    Given 66% while driving a Mercedes Benz E220Cdi (225/45 R17) on mostly motorways for 5,000 easy going miles
    I bought those tires in October 2021. Overall, the tires were amazing, on par with Michelin X-Ice North 4, which I have on my other car. Most of the time, the tires were used on highways mixed with relatively little city driving. The driving style was gentle, as the car has always on ASR, that makes sideways driving unpredictable.

    After about 5k miles, there is still a lot of rubber to go, but the studs have given out. They work perfectly fine when accelerating/braking, but they have turned into skis when cornering. The studs are rectangular in shape and the sides of the studs have rounded off, making them not grip on ice on lateral motion. I found it out when I was driving on black ice on a windy day and an oncoming truck caused the car to fishtail at 45MPH.

    I really liked those tires, but I can not recommend them due to the stud rounding out issue.
    Helpful 14 - tire reviewed on October 25, 2023
    Given 80% while driving a Saab Automobile 9 5 2.0t BioPower Estate (180bhp) (215/55 R16 T) on a combination of roads for 8,500 average miles
    I had regular studs Superb grip on packed snow and ~1 cm of snow on top of the packed snow. Grip on ice is great also tested on lake ice track. One can have fun throwing the car around on ice and tires feel good especially while braking. I felt confident with them on slippery surfaces. When there is around 4-5 cm of snow these tires are too wide and lose contact with hard surface on higher speeds. For those days I wish i had narrower tires but it is not "the tires fault". Dry and Wer grip is pretty good but unstudded tires could be better for those conditions. Atleast these tires are not able to handle 360Nm of torque (not stock) as well as my previous (old) unstudded tires. When it gets above freezing these tires feel quite soft under a heavy car. Below freezing the feedback and response is ok for 16" winter tires. Noisy tires there is no going around that even in fairly quiet car but it does not bother me. Combined with 55 profile the ride is smooth and comfortable. They also take the worst out of poorly maintained winter roads. Overall great tires for narrow and windy roads with changing conditions. For warm, dry and wet conditions these tires are overkill and can not really shine in what they are best at even though they are not bad. Go for narrower tire if possible in case you get a lot of soft snow but driving carefully solves that problem too.
    Helpful 46 - tire reviewed on June 3, 2020
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