Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Review: The Ultimate Luxury Performance Tire

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When it comes to premium all-season tires that deliver exceptional performance without compromise, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR stands in a class of its own. Engineered specifically for luxury sedans, high-performance vehicles, and sports cars, this remarkable tire represents the pinnacle of Continental’s tire technology and innovation.

Imagine cruising down a winding coastal highway, feeling every curve with precision and confidence, or navigating through an unexpected summer downpour with unwavering stability. The PremiumContact 6 SSR is designed for drivers who demand excellence in every aspect of their driving experience – from razor-sharp handling on dry roads to reassuring grip in wet conditions, and even surprising capability when winter weather arrives.

What sets this tire apart from the competition is its perfect balance of seemingly contradictory qualities. It delivers sports car-like responsiveness without sacrificing the plush, quiet ride luxury vehicle owners expect. Its advanced compound technology provides exceptional grip while still offering impressive tread life and durability.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore everything that makes the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR a standout choice in the premium tire segment. Whether you’re considering an upgrade for your BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or other performance-oriented vehicle, this deep dive will help you understand why this tire might be the perfect match for drivers who refuse to compromise on quality, safety, or driving enjoyment.

What is the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR?

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is a premium all-season tire designed for luxury sedans, sports cars, and high-performance vehicles. It combines advanced technologies to deliver exceptional dry, wet, and winter traction while providing a comfortable and quiet ride.

This tire features an asymmetric tread pattern with Continental’s latest silica-enhanced tread compound. The outer shoulders have a solid, continuous rib for enhanced dry road handling and cornering grip. The inner tread features high-density 3D sipes and grooves to evacuate water effectively, improving wet traction and hydroplaning resistance.

The PremiumContact 6 SSR also incorporates Continental’s Traction Grooves, which are interlocking grooves that provide biting edges for improved snow traction. This tire meets the industry’s severe snow service requirements and is branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, indicating its capable winter performance.

Designed as an original equipment tire for many luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, the PremiumContact 6 SSR delivers the precise handling and responsive steering these vehicles demand. Its reinforced internal structure and polyamide reinforcement belts provide high-speed capability and crisp steering feel.

Design and Construction

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR features an asymmetric tread pattern designed to optimize dry, wet, and winter traction. The outer shoulders have a continuous rigid rib with high-density siping to enhance cornering grip and high-speed stability. The inner tread features larger blocks and circumferential grooves for enhanced water evacuation.

The tire utilizes Continental’s latest TrucPlus Silica compound, which incorporates liquid polymer additives to improve wet grip while maintaining low rolling resistance. The compound also contains high-silica content and special resins for increased tread life.

Internally, the PremiumContact 6 SSR has two steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon for high-speed durability and uniformity. The polyester casing plies are reinforced with Continental’s CoolCurc aramidfabric for improved heat resistance and high-speed capability.

The tire’s internal structure features Continental’s Frec3 design with a cushion layer of rubberized fabric to absorb road vibrations for a smoother, quieter ride. Rigid shoulder inserts help stabilize the tread footprint for precise handling response.

Overall, the advanced compound and construction allow the PremiumContact 6 SSR to blend dry road grip, wet traction, winter mobility, comfort, and treadwear into a versatile premium touring tire.

Dry Road Performance

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR truly shines when it comes to dry road performance. This tire delivers exceptional handling and steering response, allowing you to tackle winding roads and tight corners with confidence. The advanced silica-enhanced tread compound provides outstanding grip levels, ensuring precise cornering and minimal understeer or oversteer.

During spirited driving, the PremiumContact 6 SSR remains composed and communicative, providing excellent feedback through the steering wheel. This responsiveness translates into a connected and engaging driving experience, whether you’re navigating city streets or enjoying a scenic route through the countryside.

The asymmetric tread pattern plays a crucial role in the tire’s dry road prowess. The outboard shoulders feature rigid tread blocks that maximize contact with the road surface, enhancing grip and stability during cornering maneuvers. Additionally, the continuous center rib ensures straight-line tracking and high-speed stability, contributing to a sense of control and confidence at higher velocities.

Braking performance on dry roads is also noteworthy, with the PremiumContact 6 SSR providing short stopping distances and reliable deceleration. This characteristic can be attributed to the tire’s advanced compound and tread design, which work together to maximize traction and minimize braking distances.

Overall, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR excels in dry road conditions, delivering a well-balanced combination of precise handling, responsive steering, and tenacious grip. Whether you’re an enthusiastic driver or simply value a composed and controlled driving experience, this tire will not disappoint.

Wet Road Performance

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR excels in wet conditions, delivering outstanding hydroplaning resistance, wet traction, and braking performance. The tire’s advanced tread compound and specialized silica reinforcement provide remarkable grip on slick surfaces, ensuring optimal contact with the road.

Hydroplaning resistance is a standout feature of this tire. The PremiumContact 6 SSR features an optimized tread pattern with wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that effectively evacuate water from the contact patch. This design minimizes the risk of hydroplaning, allowing the tire to maintain a secure footprint on wet roads, even at higher speeds.

Wet traction and braking are also exceptional. The tire’s tread compound incorporates high-silica content, which enhances its ability to adhere to wet surfaces. Additionally, the tread pattern’s interlocking sipes and biting edges provide exceptional grip, ensuring reliable acceleration and braking performance in rainy conditions.

The PremiumContact 6 SSR’s grooves are engineered for efficient water evacuation. The wide circumferential grooves act as channels, rapidly dispersing water from the contact patch, while the lateral notches further enhance water displacement. This advanced drainage system helps maintain consistent contact between the tire and the road, minimizing the risk of hydroplaning and maximizing wet traction.

Overall, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR’s wet performance capabilities are truly impressive, offering drivers confidence and control in even the most challenging wet weather conditions.

Snow and Ice Performance

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR showcases impressive snow and ice traction capabilities thanks to its advanced silica-enhanced tread compound and intricate siping design. The tread rubber remains pliable at lower temperatures, allowing the tire to conform to icy surfaces for enhanced grip.

Continental’s engineers implemented a high-density, 3D sipe pattern across the tire’s tread blocks. These countless biting edges provide exceptional traction on packed snow and ice. The sipes also create increased tread block edges to further improve winter grip. As the tire wears, new sipes are exposed to maintain traction over time.

The PremiumContact 6 SSR utilizes Continental’s +Silane additives which link the silica and polymer components at a molecular level. This advanced compound technology enhances flexibility and grip on frozen surfaces compared to conventional winter tires. The tire remains pliable in temperatures well below freezing for reliable cold-weather performance.

Overall, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR delivers confident traction and handling in winter conditions. Its cold-weather compound and biting sipe edges provide the capabilities needed to tackle snow and ice-covered roads with ease.

Ride Comfort

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR delivers an exceptionally smooth and comfortable ride quality, thanks to its advanced tread design and construction. This tire excels in minimizing road noise and absorbing impacts, ensuring a serene driving experience even on rough surfaces.

One of the standout features contributing to the tire’s quiet operation is the use of an optimized tread pattern with computer-optimized sipes and grooves. These design elements work together to reduce the generation of unwanted noise, resulting in a remarkably peaceful cabin environment. Whether cruising on the highway or navigating city streets, the PremiumContact 6 SSR maintains a hushed demeanor, allowing you to enjoy your music or conversations without intrusive road roar.

In addition to its noise-reducing capabilities, the tire’s advanced construction incorporates specialized compounds and reinforcements that enhance impact absorption. This not only contributes to a smoother ride but also helps protect the tire from potential damage caused by potholes, debris, or other road hazards. The tire’s ability to absorb shocks and vibrations effectively translates into a more comfortable and controlled driving experience, even over rough or uneven surfaces.

Furthermore, the PremiumContact 6 SSR’s tread design and internal structure work in harmony to maintain a consistent and stable ride quality throughout its lifespan. Unlike some tires that can become harsher or more unsettled as they wear down, this tire maintains its smooth and composed ride characteristics, ensuring a consistent level of comfort and refinement over its entire tread life.

Whether you’re embarking on a long road trip or tackling your daily commute, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR prioritizes ride comfort without compromising on performance or handling. Its ability to deliver a quiet, smooth, and well-controlled ride makes it an excellent choice for drivers seeking a truly refined and enjoyable driving experience.

Treadwear and Durability

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is designed to provide excellent treadwear and durability, even under demanding driving conditions. With its advanced tread compound and optimized tread design, this tire offers impressive longevity and value for money.

Expected Tread Life

Continental rates the PremiumContact 6 SSR with a UTQG treadwear rating of 700, which is considered excellent for a premium touring tire. This rating suggests that the tire should deliver around 60,000-80,000 miles of tread life under normal driving conditions, depending on factors such as driving habits, vehicle weight, and maintenance practices.

Warranty Information

Continental backs the PremiumContact 6 SSR with a comprehensive warranty package. The tire comes with a 72-month warranty from the date of purchase, with free replacement during the first 12 months or the first 2/32 inch of wear (whichever comes first). After that, the warranty provides pro-rated coverage until the tire’s treadwear indicators are visible.

Real-World Mileage Reports

Many drivers have reported impressive real-world mileage from the PremiumContact 6 SSR. Several owners have shared experiences of achieving 70,000-90,000 miles on a single set of tires, with some even exceeding 100,000 miles under optimal conditions. These reports highlight the tire’s exceptional durability and treadwear resistance, even with spirited driving or heavier vehicle loads.

Overall, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is a tire that delivers outstanding treadwear and durability, providing long-lasting performance and value for money. With its impressive warranty coverage and real-world mileage reports, it is a tire that can withstand the rigors of daily driving while offering a comfortable and confident driving experience.

Sizes and Fitments

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is available in a wide range of sizes to fit many passenger cars, crossovers, and SUVs. From smaller 15-inch fitments up to larger 20-inch diameters, there are plenty of options to ensure a proper fit on your vehicle.

Some key sizes offered include popular fitments like 215/55R17 for midsize sedans and crossovers, 235/45R18 for sportier cars and coupes, and larger 275/45R20 sizes for SUVs and trucks. The broad range allows this tire to be an excellent choice for drivers of everything from compact cars to luxury SUVs.

In terms of vehicle applications, the PremiumContact 6 SSR is designed primarily for premium cars, sports cars, crossovers, and SUVs from brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, and more. Its responsive handling and high level of grip make it well-suited for performance-oriented vehicles that still need all-season capabilities.

With over 60 sizes in the lineup, drivers can easily find a PremiumContact 6 SSR tire that meets their vehicle’s factory size specifications. Continental’s fitment guide makes it simple to look up the right set of tires for your make, model, and year. This ensures proper handling, stability, and wear characteristics from a tire designed for your specific vehicle.

Comparisons to Other Premium Tires

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR competes directly with other premium all-season touring tires from top manufacturers like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear. When compared to rivals like the Michelin Premier A/S, Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus, and Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring, the PremiumContact 6 SSR holds its own in most performance categories.

In dry grip and handling, the Continental matches the responsive steering feel and cornering stability of the Michelin Premier A/S. Both tires feel planted and inspire confidence in dry conditions. However, the Bridgestone Ecopia lags slightly behind in dry road performance.

For wet traction and hydroplaning resistance, the PremiumContact 6 SSR is a match for the excellent Michelin Premier A/S. Both tires utilize advanced silica-enhanced tread compounds and grooved designs to evacuate water effectively. The Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring shows solid wet performance as well, but may not quite reach the same heights.

When it comes to snow and ice grip, the Continental and Michelin have an edge over the Bridgestone and Goodyear options. The PremiumContact 6 SSR’s high silica content and biting edges give it surprisingly capable winter traction for an all-season tire. The Michelin Premier A/S is also a strong performer in wintry conditions.

Ride comfort is an area where the PremiumContact 6 SSR really shines. Its luxury touring design with polyamide reinforcement layers provides a plush, well-damped ride that rivals or exceeds other premium touring tires. Road noise is also well-controlled.

In treadwear, the Continental slots in around the middle of the premium touring category. You can expect 50,000-60,000 miles with the PremiumContact 6 SSR with proper rotation and inflation. The Michelin Premier A/S may have a slight longevity advantage.

Overall, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR competes head-to-head with class leaders like the Michelin Premier A/S. It delivers a compelling blend of dry/wet grip, winter traction, ride quality, and treadwear that makes it an excellent premium touring tire choice for drivers who want it all.

Value and Pricing

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR tires come with a premium price tag, reflecting their position as a high-performance, ultra-high-performance tire designed for luxury vehicles and sports cars. However, when considering the overall value proposition, these tires can be a worthwhile investment for drivers seeking exceptional performance, comfort, and longevity.

Compared to budget or economy tires, the PremiumContact 6 SSR tires typically cost two to three times more. This higher upfront cost can be justified by their superior construction, advanced compound technologies, and optimized tread design, which translate into enhanced driving dynamics, improved safety, and extended treadwear.

While budget tires may seem like a more cost-effective option initially, they often compromise on performance, handling, and durability. In contrast, the PremiumContact 6 SSR tires deliver consistent and predictable performance, even in challenging driving conditions, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

Furthermore, the PremiumContact 6 SSR tires are designed to provide excellent treadwear, with many drivers reporting impressive mileage ratings. This longevity can offset the higher initial cost over the tire’s lifespan, making them a more cost-effective choice in the long run.

It’s important to note that the value proposition of the PremiumContact 6 SSR tires may vary depending on individual driving habits, vehicle specifications, and local driving conditions. However, for drivers who prioritize performance, safety, and a comfortable ride, these tires can be a worthwhile investment, offering a compelling combination of advanced technologies and long-lasting performance.

FAQs

Conclusion

The Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is a true standout in the world of premium all-season tires. Engineered specifically for luxury sedans, high-performance vehicles, and sports cars, this tire delivers exceptional performance across all key areas without compromising on any front.

From its impressive dry road handling and responsive steering to its outstanding wet traction and hydroplaning resistance, the PremiumContact 6 SSR proves its mettle in various driving conditions. The tire’s advanced silica-enhanced compound and asymmetric tread pattern work together to provide a perfect balance of grip, comfort, and durability.

What truly sets the PremiumContact 6 SSR apart is its ability to excel in seemingly contradictory aspects. It offers sports car-like responsiveness and precise cornering while maintaining a plush, quiet ride that luxury vehicle owners expect. The tire’s winter capabilities, earning it a 3PMSF rating, further showcase its versatility as an all-season performer.

For drivers who demand nothing but the best from their tires, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is a top choice. Its combination of cutting-edge technology, premium materials, and thoughtful design results in a tire that delivers uncompromising performance, safety, and comfort.

While the PremiumContact 6 SSR may come at a higher price point compared to some competitors, its overall value proposition is strong. The tire’s durability, treadwear, and all-around performance justify the investment for discerning drivers who prioritize quality and refuse to settle for less.

In conclusion, the Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR is a testament to Continental’s commitment to tire innovation and excellence. It sets a new benchmark in the premium all-season tire segment, offering a driving experience that is both exhilarating and reassuring. If you’re looking for a tire that can keep pace with your high-performance vehicle while providing year-round confidence, the PremiumContact 6 SSR is a top contender worthy of serious consideration.