Drivers generally describe the Continental Premium Contact 2 as a confidence-inspiring summer tire with strong dry grip, capable wet grip, and communicative handling/feedback when pushed. Many higher-scoring reviews also mention stable braking and predictable behavior, with some reporting very long life on lighter cars or predominantly motorway use. However, a large portion of users complain about rapid treadwear (especially on the driven axle) and noticeable road noise, and several note that wet grip/aquaplaning resistance can deteriorate as the tire wears. Overall, it's viewed as a strong performer when fresh, but often expensive to run due to wear and (for some) noise.
What owners mention most counted across 155 reviews
First set of 4 lasted 28,000 miles - all wore evenly and progressively. Fitted 2 more yesterday to front both measured just under 3mm across full width and circumference.
This tire has a UTQG Treadwear of 280 Traction AA Temperature A. Tread pattern is uniform non aggressive quiet assymmetic with 4 big water drainage channels. What I remember most about this tire is how many punctures I got from using this tire.
In 15000 miles, I have gotten at least 4 punctured holes on 2 of these tires. I placed them at the rear and my fronts are using Michelin PS3.
This tire is noisy, doesn't grip very well in wet and has average to poor high speed stability. It's better than my old Yokohamas but below the Michelin PP2 or PS3. It has a noisy hum when approaching speeds of 110km/h if your tire is down to less than 30% thread life.
Sidewell is very soft and with the weight of the car it looks flat even with sufficient air pressure.
It's not cheap here in Malaysia though and for the price you have other better alternatives.
Currently on a new set of Toyo Proxes C1S on the rear as replacement and look and feel way better but then it's still too new to tell. I will update further at the Toyo section.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
These were original fitment for my MINI One D. They are good to drive on but now I have done 15k they front ones are almost illegal (outside edge worn). The back ones will probably last for another 5k. Thats with a mosly gentle style and a lot of motorway miles at 65 mph. Basicaly I would expect to get at least 25k out of the fronts so thats disapointing. I am replacing the front ones now with Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco's, hopefuly that will improve my fuel economy and they will last a bit longer too.
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I've had these tires on the front of my front wheel drive estate and they are near to the end of their life - however the grip is still very good. They have been very faithful servants but the wear seems to have been less than anticipated. The rears that were fitted at the same time still look almost new....
As a 'standard' tire supplied by a lot of manufacturers, one would expect quality and they do certainly do the job very well - even with low tread in wet weather. In the recent heavy rain (October 2012), they even managed to give full confidence through standing water on the motorway - very reassuring!
Would I buy again, probably not and that is just down to wear versus cost basis....
These are a great general tire and I would guess most 'gentle' drivers would have very few complaints form these and enjoy safe quiet driving.....
Unlike these tires in a W rated patter fitted to our other car, the wet weather performance is very poor indeed and getting almost dangerous as they wear down. Slightest bit of standing water and you risk aquaplaning, be very glad to see the back of these tires and already replace them with a much better Hankook winter pattern for the colder and wetter half of the year.
Fitted to a lightweight petrol Fabia, then W speed rated pattern Contact 2 tires are proving to be OK. Road/tire noise, some minor 'cracking' between tread blocks and poor grip in winter conditions being the only notable negatives (now fit winter tires to the car from November to end March).
However we have had experience with these tires on other cars in the H rated pattern. With our previous front wheel drive diesel Corsa, then high wear at the front was an issue; notable more so than the Avon's that replaced them. We also have another car which came with these tires, again H rated but a wider 215 profile and the more they wear down the more dangerous in the wet they become; very prone to aquaplaning with the slightest bit of standing water(see other review). Would not recommend them despite the begrudging strong scores for these W rated examples.
Overall noise and grip fine, but wear rate to great.21,000km and the dealer says new tires any day now. Funnily enough the rear seem to have worn quicker than the front ; though all have worn very evenly across tread.
So year ago I total destroyed my first new Fiesta because of these tires. Now I have got a new Fiesta with the same tires but on 16"rims. It's a different story and the new size Contis a much, much better. However when I'm going to buy new set of tires I will never take Continental again. There is astonishing dry grip but nothing else for the price.Now here in my country the air temperatures are up to 40 degrees and these contis are wearing as fast as snow on the sunlight. Only 6000 miles and they are almost gone...
OK only on a Honda Jazz, BUT bridgestones 36k miles, p6000s 18k, these Contis illegal after 10k!! Nice drivers though, as far as you can tell in a Jazz. Can't afford this though. Bridgestones after 10k on my avesis only 25% worn, so back to them I guess!!
