The Tire Rack team conducted a “Real World Road Ride and Performance Track Drive,” comparing tires from several manufacturers seeking an “unrivaled blend of dry and wet traction.”
Fitted onto a 2011 BMW E92 328i coupe, Tire Rack’s drivers put the tires to the test on its 6.6-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads in Southbend, Ind. Judging was based on noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling.
The ExtremeContact DW topped the list with a 7.55 out of 10- point rating, and also ranked as the most comfortable ride and the most fuel efficient of the group, according to Bill Caldwell, Continental’s vice president of sales and marketing.
“We’re very proud to have earned this coveted rating from Tire Rack,” Caldwell says. “This is the second time we’ve been recognized this year by Tire Rack for our tires’ outstanding performance,” he reports.
“Earlier this year, Tire Rack also rated the Continental ExtremeWinterContact tire No. 1 in their independent winter tire test,” Caldwell says. “These test results affirm what we have known for years – Continental is leading the way in the innovation of ultra-high performance tires.”
The ExtremeContact DW is “specially engineered to deliver serious performance” on both dry and wet roads, according to Caldwell. Tuned for dry and wet conditions, the DW is part of a line of performance tires that includes the ExtremeContact DWS and the ExtremeWinterContact.
One of the new features of the DW edition is the “DW Tuned Performance Indicators,” which are visible letters built into the second rib of the tread and are designed to alert drivers of the tire’s optimal performance levels.
“D” indicates the tire is at optimum tread depth for dry conditions. “W” indicates the tire is at optimum tread depth for wet conditions. As the tire wears and the letters are still visible the tire performance remains optimized for that particular weather condition. For more information visit and www.tiretrack.com.
