Continental ExtremeContact DW Review: The Ultimate Performance All-Season Option

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When it comes to performance tires that deliver exceptional grip without sacrificing all-season versatility, the Continental ExtremeContact DW stands out as a top contender in the ultra-high performance category. Designed for drivers who refuse to compromise on handling precision and traction regardless of weather conditions, these tires have earned a stellar reputation among enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike.

The ExtremeContact DW strikes an impressive balance that few competitors can match – delivering sports car-worthy grip and response on both dry and wet roads while still providing reasonable capability when temperatures drop. With their advanced silica-enhanced compound and sophisticated tread design, these tires represent Continental’s commitment to performance engineering that works in real-world conditions.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll examine every aspect of the Continental ExtremeContact DW – from its exceptional cornering abilities to its surprising comfort and longevity. We’ll explore how these tires perform across various road conditions, which vehicles they’re best suited for, and whether they deliver enough value to justify their premium price point. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your sports sedan, muscle car, or performance crossover, this detailed analysis will help you determine if the ExtremeContact DW deserves a place on your vehicle.

What Are the Continental ExtremeContact DW Tires?

The Continental ExtremeContact DW is an ultra-high performance all-season tire designed for drivers of sports cars, muscle cars, and high-end sedans and coupes. It delivers exceptional dry and wet road grip, with enhanced snow and ice traction for all-season versatility.

Continental engineered this tire with an advanced silica-enhanced tread compound that stays pliable in cooler temperatures for enhanced traction on slippery surfaces. The asymmetric tread pattern features large outer shoulder blocks for cornering grip, while the continuous center ribs and 3D sipes provide hydroplaning resistance and biting edges for snow traction.

The ExtremeContact DW utilizes Continental’s DrySurfaceOptimized Technology with a tapered center rib design that maximizes dry road contact for responsive handling and shorter braking distances. Interior tread elements like the +Silane reinforced polymer matrix enhance grip on wet roads.

Designed as an ultra-high performance summer tire with all-season capability, the ExtremeContact DW strikes a balance between dry/wet performance and light winter traction. It’s aimed at drivers who want year-round traction without compromising the crisp steering feel and cornering prowess their performance vehicle demands.

Dry Road Performance

The Continental ExtremeContact DW tires excel in dry road performance, delivering precise handling, responsive steering, and tenacious cornering grip. Designed with advanced silica-enhanced tread compounds, these tires provide exceptional dry traction and grip levels that inspire confidence on winding roads and during spirited driving.

The asymmetric tread pattern features rigid outside shoulder blocks and a continuous center rib, promoting high-speed stability and precise steering response. The notched shoulder blocks and intermediate tread ribs enhance dry road traction, allowing the tires to bite into the pavement during hard cornering maneuvers. This translates into impressive cornering grip, minimizing understeer and maximizing driver control.

Whether you’re navigating tight city streets or enjoying a spirited drive on twisty backroads, the Continental ExtremeContact DW tires offer a dynamic and engaging driving experience on dry pavement. The tires communicate road conditions effectively, providing the driver with a confident and connected feel behind the wheel. Braking distances on dry surfaces are also shortened, thanks to the tire’s excellent dry grip and traction capabilities.

Wet Road Performance

The Continental ExtremeContact DW truly shines when it comes to wet road performance. These tires are engineered with advanced silica-enhanced tread compounds and an optimized tread pattern design, providing exceptional grip and traction on slick, rain-soaked surfaces.

One of the standout features of the ExtremeContact DW is its impressive hydroplaning resistance. The wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches in the tread pattern effectively evacuate water from under the tire, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and maintaining a firm grip on the road. This enhanced hydroplaning resistance instills confidence in drivers, allowing them to maintain control even during heavy downpours.

In addition to its hydroplaning resistance, the ExtremeContact DW delivers excellent wet traction and braking performance. The high-silica tread compound enhances grip on wet surfaces, while the directional tread pattern channels water away from the contact patch, ensuring optimal contact between the tire and the road. This translates into improved handling, cornering stability, and shorter braking distances, even on soaked roads.

During wet weather driving, the ExtremeContact DW’s tread pattern and specialized rubber compound work in tandem to provide reliable traction and responsive handling. Whether you’re navigating through heavy rain or encountering unexpected puddles, these tires offer a reassuring level of control and safety, allowing you to maintain your intended line and avoid potential hazards.

Snow and Ice Traction

The Continental ExtremeContact DW tires are designed to provide reliable traction and control in winter conditions, thanks to their advanced compound and tread pattern. While they are not dedicated winter tires, they offer impressive snow and ice capabilities for an all-season tire.

On snow-covered roads, the ExtremeContact DW’s directional tread pattern and deep grooves help channel away slush and provide enhanced grip. The tire’s silica-enhanced compound remains pliable in cold temperatures, allowing the tread blocks to conform to the road surface and maximize contact patch. This results in confident traction and handling, even on fresh or packed snow.

When it comes to ice traction, the ExtremeContact DW performs admirably for an all-season tire. The specialized tread compound incorporates microscopic biting edges that grip into icy surfaces, improving braking and cornering performance. Additionally, the tire’s circumferential grooves help evacuate water and slush, reducing the risk of hydroplaning on icy patches.

While dedicated winter tires will always provide superior traction on extreme ice and deep snow, the Continental ExtremeContact DW offers a balanced blend of winter capabilities and all-season versatility. Drivers in regions with milder winters or those who prioritize year-round performance over maximum winter grip will find these tires to be a reliable and capable choice.

Comfort and Noise Levels

The Continental ExtremeContact DW tires deliver impressive ride comfort and low noise levels for an ultra-high performance all-season tire. Their computer-optimized tread design and advanced rubber compound work together to minimize vibrations and cabin noise.

On smooth highways, these tires provide a remarkably quiet and comfortable ride. The noise-reducing tread pattern helps reduce the typical road roar experienced with other performance tires. Even at higher speeds, the cabin remains pleasantly quiet with minimal intrusive noises.

When driving over rougher surfaces like concrete highways or city streets, the ExtremeContact DWs do allow some minor impact harshness to be transmitted into the cabin. However, this is expected from a tire focused on high-performance grip rather than pure comfort. The ride remains composed and controlled over bumps and irregularities.

One area where these tires truly shine is wet road noise. Their unique circumferential and lateral grooves effectively expel water, resulting in very little of the typical “slushing” sounds experienced with other tires in wet conditions. This enhances the sense of refinement when driving in rainy weather.

Overall, the Continental ExtremeContact DW manages to strike an impressive balance between performance capabilities and comfort. While not as plush as a dedicated touring tire, they provide a remarkably quiet and smooth ride for their category. Drivers can enjoy spirited driving without excessive cabin noise or ride harshness penalties.

Treadwear and Durability

The Continental ExtremeContact DW tires are designed to provide excellent treadwear and durability, ensuring a long-lasting performance on the road. With their advanced tread compound and optimized tread design, these tires offer impressive resistance to wear, even under demanding driving conditions.

One of the standout features of the ExtremeContact DW is its expected tread life. Continental has engineered these tires to deliver outstanding mileage, with many owners reporting impressive tread life ranging from 40,000 to 60,000 miles or more, depending on driving habits and vehicle maintenance. This extended tread life translates into significant cost savings for drivers, as they won’t need to replace their tires as frequently.

The tread compound used in the ExtremeContact DW is formulated to resist excessive wear and tear, even when subjected to high temperatures, aggressive cornering, and frequent braking. This compound’s resilience ensures that the tires maintain their tread depth and grip performance over time, providing consistent handling and traction throughout their lifespan.

Additionally, the tread design of the ExtremeContact DW incorporates several features that contribute to its durability. The continuous center rib enhances stability and even wear, while the lateral grooves and sipes help evacuate water and improve traction on wet surfaces. These design elements work together to minimize uneven wear patterns and prolong the tires‘ usable life.

To further demonstrate their confidence in the ExtremeContact DW’s durability, Continental backs these tires with a comprehensive warranty package. The treadwear warranty covers the tires for a specific mileage range, ensuring that owners can enjoy peace of mind and protection against premature wear.

Overall, the Continental ExtremeContact DW tires offer exceptional treadwear and durability, making them a reliable choice for drivers seeking long-lasting performance and value for their investment. With their impressive tread life, wear resistance, and warranty coverage, these tires provide a reassuring driving experience mile after mile.

Ideal Vehicle Types and Driving Conditions

The Continental ExtremeContact DW is an ultra-high performance all-season tire designed for drivers of sports cars, muscle cars, high-end sedans, and performance-oriented crossovers and SUVs. Its blend of dry grip, wet traction, and year-round drivability make it an excellent choice for enthusiasts who demand maximum control and confidence behind the wheel in a wide range of conditions.

This tire excels in warm and hot climates where all-season versatility is desired. Its asymmetric tread pattern with large outer shoulder blocks provides immense dry road grip for spirited driving on the street or track days. The silica-enhanced compound maximizes traction on wet roads as well. While not a dedicated winter tire, the ExtremeContact DW can handle light snow and cold temperatures reasonably well for an all-season touring tire.

Drivers of sports cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, as well as high-performance sedans such as BMW M models, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi S/RS variants will find the ExtremeContact DW to be an excellent original equipment or upgrade option. It’s also well-suited for powerful crossovers and SUVs from manufacturers like Porsche, Jeep, Land Rover, and other luxury brands. The tire’s responsive handling and cornering grip make it ideal for dynamic driving enjoyment.

Price and Value for Money

The Continental ExtremeContact DW is positioned as a premium ultra-high performance all-season tire, which is reflected in its pricing. Expect to pay $150-$300 per tire depending on the size, with larger diameters and higher load ratings commanding higher prices. This places the ExtremeContact DW towards the higher end of the all-season ultra-high performance category in terms of cost.

However, when you consider the impressive dry and wet traction capabilities combined with relatively good treadwear ratings, the ExtremeContact DW can make a strong case for being a good value proposition. Many owners report getting 40,000-50,000 miles out of a set under normal driving conditions. Factoring in the performance over that lifespan, the cost-per-mile can be quite reasonable compared to some lower-priced but shorter-lasting alternatives.

Continental has built a reputation for quality construction and long treadwear with tires like the ExtremeContact line. So while the upfront costs are higher, the long-term value could make up for it if you get three or more seasons of reliable high performance from a set of ExtremeContact DWs. For driving enthusiasts who want maximum grip without compromising all-season capabilities, the ExtremeContact DW represents a premium but potentially cost-effective option over its ultra-high performance all-season lifespan.

How It Compares to Other Ultra-High Performance All-Season Tires

The Continental ExtremeContact DW stands out in the ultra-high performance all-season tire category for its impressive dry and wet road grip, making it a top choice for drivers who value sporty handling and responsive steering. Compared to rivals like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ and Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS, the ExtremeContact DW offers a slight edge in dry traction and cornering stability.

However, the Michelin and Bridgestone options tend to have a slight advantage in terms of treadwear and overall tread life, potentially lasting a bit longer than the Continental tires. The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ also receives higher marks for its snow and ice traction capabilities, making it a better choice for drivers in areas with harsher winter conditions.

When it comes to ride comfort and noise levels, the ExtremeContact DW falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s not as quiet and smooth-riding as the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS, but it’s also not as firm and noisy as some other max-performance all-season models.

In terms of pricing, the Continental ExtremeContact DW is generally more affordable than the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ but more expensive than the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS, putting it in a competitive range for the category.

Overall, the ExtremeContact DW excels in dry and wet grip, making it an excellent choice for performance-oriented drivers who prioritize handling over absolute tread life or winter traction. But for those who need maximum snow and ice capabilities or prioritize long tread life above all else, some competing models may be a better fit.

Professional Reviews and Ratings

The Continental ExtremeContact DW has received highly positive reviews from tire experts and leading consumer review sites. On TireRack.com, it has an impressive overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on over 150 reviews. Owners praise its excellent dry and wet traction, responsive handling, and comfortable ride quality.

Independent testing by leading publications like Car and Driver and Tire Rack has consistently ranked the ExtremeContact DW among the top performers in the ultra-high performance all-season category. In Tire Rack’s Real World Road Ride testing, it earned excellent ratings for its dry, wet, and light snow capabilities.

The tire review experts at TireRack highlight the ExtremeContact DW’s “outstanding traction and handling on dry and wet roads while still providing decent winter traction in colder temperatures.” Car and Driver praised its “tenacious grip and sporty reflexes” in their performance testing.

On TireReviewsNow.com, the ExtremeContact DW has an impressive 4.7 out of 5 overall score based on over 200 reviews. Reviewers commend its year-round traction abilities, long treadwear, and smooth, quiet ride quality. Many consider it one of the best ultra-high performance all-season tires on the market today.

With its combination of dry and wet road grip, light snow traction, comfort, and longevity, the Continental ExtremeContact DW has earned exemplary ratings from the tire testing professionals. Its performance in rigorous real-world evaluations solidifies its position as a leading tire in its category.

Owner Feedback and Experiences

Real-world feedback from drivers has been largely positive for the Continental ExtremeContact DW tires. Many owners praise their impressive dry and wet traction, noting confident handling and strong braking performance in various conditions. The tires seem to excel in warmer weather, providing crisp steering response and good cornering grip.

In terms of comfort, most report a smooth and quiet ride quality, with the tires doing an admirable job of absorbing bumps and minimizing road noise. This makes them well-suited for daily driving and longer road trips. However, a few owners have mentioned increased noise levels as the tires wear down.

Treadwear has been a mixed bag, with some reporting excellent longevity of 40,000 miles or more, while others have seen more rapid wear, especially with aggressive driving styles or in harsher climates. Proper tire rotation and maintaining the recommended inflation pressures can help maximize tread life.

In colder temperatures and light snow, the ExtremeContact DW tires provide decent traction according to many drivers, though dedicated winter tires are still recommended for harsh winter conditions. Overall, owners seem satisfied with the all-season capabilities and performance of these tires for most driving scenarios.

Choosing the Right Size and Load Rating

Selecting the proper size and load rating for your Continental ExtremeContact DW tires is crucial for optimal performance, safety, and longevity. These tires are available in a wide range of sizes to fit various vehicle types, from compact cars to high-performance sports cars and SUVs.

When choosing the right size, it’s essential to refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the tire information placard typically located on the driver’s side door jamb. This placard will provide the recommended tire size and load index for your specific make and model.

The tire size is represented by a series of numbers and letters, such as 225/50R17. The first three digits (225) indicate the tire’s width in millimeters, the two digits after the slash (50) represent the aspect ratio (tire height as a percentage of the width), and the last two digits (17) denote the wheel diameter in inches.

The load index is a numerical code that corresponds to the maximum weight each tire can safely carry when properly inflated. A higher load index indicates a higher weight-carrying capacity. It’s crucial to select a tire with the appropriate load index to ensure safe handling and prevent premature wear or failure.

If you have a staggered tire setup, where the front and rear tire sizes differ, you’ll need to select the appropriate sizes for each axle. Staggered setups are common on high-performance vehicles, with wider tires on the rear for improved traction and handling.

When installing new tires, it’s recommended to replace all four tires simultaneously for consistent performance and treadwear. However, if you must replace tires in pairs, ensure that the new tires are installed on the rear axle for better control and stability.

Continental offers a comprehensive size and load rating guide on their website, making it easy to identify the correct tires for your vehicle. Additionally, consulting with a trusted tire professional can help ensure you make the right choice for your driving needs and preferences.

Installation and Rotation Best Practices

Proper installation and rotation are crucial for maximizing the lifespan and performance of your Continental ExtremeContact DW tires. Here are some best practices to follow:

Mounting and Balancing

It’s essential to have your new tires mounted and balanced by a professional. Improper mounting can lead to vibrations, uneven wear, and potential safety issues. The technician should also check for any weight imbalances and add the necessary balancing weights to ensure a smooth ride.

Tire Rotation

Regular tire rotation is recommended to promote even tread wear across all four tires. The front tires typically wear faster than the rear tires due to their additional responsibilities of steering and braking. Rotating the tires helps distribute the wear more evenly.

For the Continental ExtremeContact DW, it’s recommended to rotate the tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles or as specified in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Follow a cross-rotation pattern, moving the front tires to the rear positions and the rear tires to the front, crisscrossing them from side to side.

Alignment Check

During each tire rotation, it’s a good idea to have your vehicle’s alignment checked. Improper alignment can cause excessive and uneven tire wear, reducing the lifespan of your tires and potentially affecting handling and fuel efficiency.

Tire Pressure Monitoring

Maintaining the correct tire pressure is essential for optimal performance, safety, and tread life. Check your tire pressures at least once a month and before any long trips. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the tire information placard for the recommended pressure levels.

Seasonal Tire Changeover

If you live in an area with significant seasonal changes, consider switching to dedicated winter tires during the colder months. The Continental ExtremeContact DW is an all-season tire, but it may not provide the same level of traction and performance as a dedicated winter tire in severe snow and ice conditions.

By following these installation and rotation best practices, you can ensure your Continental ExtremeContact DW tires deliver optimal performance, safety, and longevity, providing you with a smooth and confident driving experience.

Pros and Cons Summary

Pros:

• Excellent dry road handling and cornering grip
• Very good wet traction and hydroplaning resistance
• Impressive snow and ice traction for an all-season tire
• Quiet and comfortable ride quality
• Long-lasting tread life and durable construction
• Available in many sizes for cars, crossovers, and SUVs

Cons:

• Higher price point than some competitors
• Traction drops off significantly in deep snow/ice
• Tread may wear faster in hot climates or with aggressive driving
• Not the best choice for extreme performance vehicles

The Continental ExtremeContact DW delivers a well-rounded performance as an ultra-high performance all-season tire. It excels in dry and wet conditions while providing surprisingly capable snow and ice traction. The comfortable ride and long treadwear are other highlights. However, it has its limits in deep winter conditions and may be too pricey for budget-conscious shoppers. Overall, it’s an excellent option for drivers wanting year-round traction and responsive handling without the trade-offs of summer tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Continental ExtremeContact DW a Good Choice?

The Continental ExtremeContact DW is an excellent ultra-high performance all-season tire that delivers impressive dry and wet traction, responsive handling, and a comfortable ride. It’s a great choice for drivers of sports cars, muscle cars, and high-performance sedans who want year-round traction without compromising on grip and driving enjoyment.

For those living in regions with milder winters, the ExtremeContact DW provides sufficient traction on light snow and ice. However, if you encounter heavy winter conditions regularly, a dedicated winter tire would be a better option. The ExtremeContact DW truly shines on dry and wet roads, offering precise steering response, strong cornering grip, and excellent hydroplaning resistance.

While not the most affordable option, the ExtremeContact DW justifies its premium price tag with its blend of performance, comfort, and durability. With proper maintenance and rotation, these tires can deliver several seasons of reliable service. Continental’s reputation for quality and the tire’s strong ratings from professional testers and owners further reinforce its value proposition.

In summary, the Continental ExtremeContact DW is an outstanding choice for performance-oriented drivers seeking a capable all-season tire that excels in dry and wet conditions while providing decent winter traction in milder climates. Its well-rounded performance, comfort, and longevity make it a worthwhile investment for those prioritizing driving enjoyment and year-round versatility.