Continental is a premium German tyre brand best known for outstanding wet braking and short stopping distances. They often place near the top of independent wet braking tests, which makes them an excellent choice for the UK's wet climate and for any driver who puts safety first. Like all premium brands they cost more, but the wet-weather performance is where that money goes.
What Continental is known for
If Michelin's headline is longevity, Continental's is braking, particularly in the wet. Their tyres regularly post some of the shortest wet stopping distances in independent testing, which is the single most safety-critical thing a tyre does. They're also strong all-rounders with good dry grip and handling, so the wet performance doesn't come at the expense of everything else. Their current range makes that easy to shop for: the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the premium summer touring tyre built around wet braking, the AllSeasonContact 2 covers year-round UK driving with a 3PMSF snow rating, and the EcoContact 7 leans on low rolling resistance for economy and EV range.
Strong in UK conditions
Given how much of UK driving happens on wet roads, a tyre that excels in the wet is genuinely valuable here, see wet-weather tyre safety. Continental's wet-braking strength means shorter stopping distances exactly when you need them, which is why they're a popular OE (original equipment) fitment on many cars sold in Europe. The EU label's wet-grip grade reflects part of this, though independent tests show the full picture.
Who should buy them
Continental suits drivers who prioritise wet-weather safety and want a strong all-round premium tyre, especially for motorway and year-round driving. If you do high mileage and value longevity above all, it's worth comparing them against Michelin on cost per mile, but for wet braking, Continental is a strong choice.
How they compare to other premiums
Continental, Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli are all premium brands that trade places at the top of various tests. The differences between them are usually smaller than the difference between any of them and a budget tyre, see choosing a tyre brand. For a specific car, the best approach is to check independent test results for your exact size and pick the premium tyre that tests best.
Continental's main ranges at a glance
Continental sells a distinct tyre for each type of driving, and the name on the sidewall tells you which job it was built for. These are the ranges you are most likely to be offered in the UK:
| Range | Type | Built for |
|---|---|---|
| PremiumContact 7 | Summer touring | Everyday cars and family SUVs; the wet-braking flagship |
| SportContact 7 | Summer ultra-high performance | Performance and sports cars that want sharper steering and dry grip |
| EcoContact 7 (EcoContact 6 still sold in some sizes) | Summer, low rolling resistance | Economy, hybrids and EVs where range matters; a common OE fitment |
| AllSeasonContact 2 | All-season, 3PMSF marked | Year-round UK driving without a seasonal swap |
| WinterContact TS 870 / TS 870 P | Winter | Dedicated winter set, cold-weather compound, 3PMSF marked |
| CrossContact family | SUV and 4x4 | Larger SUVs and light off-road use |
| VanContact family | Van and light commercial | Load-rated van tyres in summer, winter and all-season versions |
Within each range the exact grades vary by size, so two PremiumContact 7s in different sizes can carry different EU label ratings. Always check the label for the size your car takes rather than the range in general.
Older ranges such as PremiumContact 6 and EcoContact 5 are still sold in some sizes. They are not bad tyres, but the newer generation is the one to ask for where it exists in your size.
Reading the EU label on a Continental
The label grades wet grip and rolling resistance from A to E and gives external noise in decibels, and it is the quickest way to compare two Continentals in your size. It is a legal requirement on new car tyres sold in the UK, so every Continental you are quoted has one.
What the three figures mean in practice:
- Wet grip (A to E): based on a wet braking test. This is the grade Continental's touring ranges tend to score well on, and it is the one that matters most on UK roads.
- Rolling resistance (A to E): how much energy the tyre wastes as it rolls. Better grades mean slightly better fuel economy or EV range. The EcoContact range is designed around this grade.
- Noise (dB and a wave symbol): external pass-by noise, not what you hear inside the car. Some Continental sizes also carry ContiSilent foam, which reduces cabin noise separately from this figure, see acoustic foam tyres.
The label also shows the 3PMSF snowflake where a tyre has passed the snow test, which is how you confirm that an AllSeasonContact 2 or WinterContact is winter-rated.
It does not show tread life, and it does not distinguish a tyre that keeps its wet grip as it wears from one that does not, so it is a starting point rather than the whole story. Tyre-safety charity TyreSafe publishes plain-English guidance on what the grades mean.
Continental as original equipment
Continental is one of the largest suppliers of tyres fitted at the factory, which is why so many cars sold in the UK arrive on them. Car makers choose an OE tyre after their own testing, and often ask for a version tuned to that model.
Those tuned versions carry an extra code on the sidewall alongside the size. Common ones include a star for BMW and MINI, MO or MO1 for Mercedes-Benz, AO for Audi, and N-numbers for Porsche. The tuning may involve the compound, the construction or the tread pattern, and it is optimised for that car rather than being a better tyre in general.
When you replace an OE tyre, you are not legally required to fit the same marked version. Matching it keeps the car behaving as the maker intended and avoids mixing a tuned tyre with a standard one on the same axle.
If the marked version is unavailable or expensive in your size, the standard Continental in the same range is the next best match, and replacing the pair keeps things consistent.
The one thing to keep is the specification. Whatever you fit must meet the size, load index and speed rating on the door placard or in the handbook, see how to read a tyre size.
Getting the most from a set of Continentals
A premium tyre only delivers its wet braking if it is inflated correctly, aligned correctly and above the legal tread limit, so the maintenance matters as much as the brand. None of this is specific to Continental, but it decides whether you get what you paid for.
- Pressure: check monthly and before long trips, cold, against the placard figure. Under-inflation increases rolling resistance and wears the shoulders.
- Alignment: a kerb or pothole strike can put the angles out and scrub the edge off a new tyre in a few thousand miles. Uneven wear on one edge is the usual sign.
- Rotation: on a front-wheel-drive car the fronts wear faster. Swapping front to rear at a service evens that out, within the limits of the tyre's pattern type.
- Tread: the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters (GOV.UK), and TyreSafe notes a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per illegal tyre. Wet braking falls away noticeably before that point, so plan replacement early rather than at the limit.
- Balancing: every new tyre should be balanced on fitting. A vibration that appears later usually means a weight has come off, not a faulty tyre.
Continental also publishes guidance on tyre age; like other makers, it recommends regular inspection of older tyres regardless of tread; the date code on the sidewall tells you its age.
We fit Continental
We supply and fit Continental and other premium tyres at your home or workplace from our one base at Brent Cross, NW2. London and the Home Counties are closest, and for anywhere further out we tell you on the call whether we can take the job. Send your registration for a quote on the right Continental for your car.
