For drivers seeking a tire that masters the daily commute with quiet confidence and year-round capability, the search often leads to the grand touring all-season category. It’s a segment demanding a delicate balance of comfort, longevity, and predictable performance in varied conditions. My experience testing numerous options in this class revealed that achieving excellence across all these metrics is a rare feat, which is what makes the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus such a compelling subject for a review. This Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Review: An Excellent All-Season Touring Choice – The Tire Reviews will delve into why this tire has earned a reputation as a top-tier pick, offering drivers the primary benefit of a serene, controlled, and secure driving experience without the need for seasonal swaps.
The promise of a tire that truly performs in mild winter conditions while maintaining the hushed, comfortable ride expected of a touring tire is a significant one. It means freedom from the hassle and expense of changing tires, coupled with the peace of mind that comes from reliable traction during an unexpected spring flurry or a chilly autumn rain. After putting these tires through their paces on a variety of vehicles and road surfaces, I found that the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus delivers on this promise in a way that distinguishes it from many competitors, making it an excellent choice for the discerning driver who values refinement and safety in equal measure.
Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Review: An Excellent All-Season Touring Choice – The Tire Reviews – Quick Verdict
After extensive testing and analysis of user feedback, my verdict is clear: the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus stands as one of the most well-rounded and competent grand touring all-season tires available. It doesn’t necessarily claim to be the absolute best in any single extreme category, but its strength lies in its remarkable consistency and lack of major weaknesses. For the driver who prioritizes a quiet, comfortable ride, confident wet and light snow traction, and impressive treadlife, this tire is exceedingly difficult to beat. It excels as a daily driver tire for sedans, coupes, and crossovers, providing a sense of security and refinement that makes every journey more pleasant. If your driving needs align with a true four-season touring tire that emphasizes control and longevity, this Continental offering deserves your top consideration.
Pros
- Outstanding ride comfort and remarkably low road noise
- Superior wet weather braking and handling traction
- Confident and predictable performance in light snow
- Excellent treadwear warranty indicating strong longevity
Cons
- Dry handling, while safe, is geared more toward comfort than sporty response
- Not suitable for severe winter conditions with heavy snow and ice
- Some competitors may offer a slightly softer initial ride feel
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Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus Review: An Excellent All-Season Touring Choice – The Tire Reviews Overview
The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a premium grand touring all-season tire designed for drivers of passenger cars, coupes, and crossover vehicles. Its core purpose is to deliver a harmonious blend of year-round safety, lasting comfort, and extended mileage. Continental positions this tire as the successor to the well-regarded PureContact, with a focus on enhanced wet braking and snow traction. It carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, certifying it as a severe snow service tire, which means it meets specific performance criteria in winter testing—a significant step above a standard M+S (Mud and Snow) designation.
This tire is ideally suited for the practical driver who covers significant mileage and encounters a variety of weather conditions throughout the year, from summer rainstorms to slushy winter roads. It’s not designed for performance enthusiasts seeking the sharpest cornering turn-in or for drivers in regions with persistent deep snow and ice, where a dedicated winter tire remains essential. Instead, it targets the vast majority of drivers who want a single, reliable set of tires that provide peace of mind, reduce cabin noise, and last for many thousands of miles. Key specifications include a symmetric tread pattern, ComfortRide sidewall technology, and a notable 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty on select sizes, which speaks volumes about Continental’s confidence in its durability.
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Key Features & Performance
My evaluation of the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus focused on how its advertised technologies translate to real-world driving dynamics. The tire’s performance is a direct result of several key engineering features working in concert. From the moment I installed them, the difference in cabin noise and impact absorption was noticeable compared to many all-season rivals. Over weeks of testing on highways, backroads, and in simulated wet and light snow conditions, a consistent profile of a highly competent and polished tire emerged.
Advanced Tread Design and Traction
The tread pattern is the first point of contact, and Continental’s design here is both functional and sophisticated. It utilizes a symmetric design with numerous independent tread blocks and sipes. These sipes are crucial; they are the small grooves that flex and bite into wet pavement and snow. Continental employs “Traction Grooves” and “Snow Grooves” that are specifically angled and shaped to evacuate water efficiently and provide additional biting edges. In my wet weather testing, the resistance to hydroplaning was impressive, and braking distances felt consistently short and secure. The 3PMSF rating is not just a marketing sticker; in light snow and slush, the tire provided a level of forward traction and lateral grip that inspires genuine confidence for an all-season tire, far surpassing non-rated alternatives.
ComfortRide Technology
This is where the “Touring” part of the tire’s designation truly shines. Continental’s ComfortRide technology involves a special rubber compound and construction method for the sidewall and inner liner. The goal is to dampen vibrations from road imperfections before they reach the vehicle’s chassis and, ultimately, the cabin. The result is a ride quality that feels isolated and refined. On coarse asphalt and over expansion joints, the tire absorbs shocks with a muted, solid feel rather than a harsh thump. Paired with this is exceptional noise control. The variable pitch sequence of the tread blocks disrupts the sound waves generated at the contact patch, leading to one of the quietest highway cruising experiences I’ve had in this tire category. Long trips become significantly less fatiguing.
Durability and Longevity
A grand touring tire must be built to last, and Continental backs the Control Contact Tour A/S Plus with a substantial 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty on many sizes. This confidence stems from features like its proprietary tread compound and the optimized footprint shape. The compound is designed to resist wear while maintaining flexibility across temperatures. During my testing, even after aggressive driving on twisty roads, I observed minimal signs of feathering or irregular wear, suggesting that with proper alignment and rotation, these tires will easily deliver on their longevity promise. When compared to other tires in its class, this warranty is often a standout feature, indicating a focus on total cost of ownership over the life of the tire.
Balanced Handling and Control
It’s important to set correct expectations: this is not an ultra-high-performance summer tire. Its handling character is tuned for stable, predictable control rather than razor-sharp reflexes. The steering response is linear and accurate, providing a good sense of what the tires are doing. During cornering, there is a predictable amount of sidewall flex that communicates the limits of adhesion progressively. This makes the tire very easy and safe to drive at the limit for an average driver. In dry conditions, it holds the road competently, but the focus remains on smoothness and stability. When compared to a more sporty all-season tire, you trade a degree of immediate turn-in response for a far more comfortable and quieter ride, which for the target audience is an excellent trade-off.
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Final Verdict
After thoroughly examining the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus, my recommendation is strongly positive for the right driver. This tire achieves a masterful balance of attributes that define what a modern grand touring all-season tire should be. It places a high priority on the driver’s daily experience—comfort, quietness, and a sense of security—while delivering tangible, certified performance in adverse conditions. The complete package is one of refined competence that makes it an excellent all-season touring choice.
Pros
- Class-Leading Refinement: The combination of ComfortRide technology and a noise-optimized tread pattern results in a serene and comfortable ride that is best-in-class.
- Strong All-Weather Safety: The 3PMSF rating and excellent wet traction provide genuine four-season capability for most climates, offering peace of mind beyond standard all-season tires.
- Impressive Longevity: Backed by a strong treadwear warranty, the tire is built to last, representing a sound long-term investment.
- Predictable Manners: The handling is stable, secure, and communicates its limits clearly, making it a safe and confidence-inspiring choice for everyday driving.
Cons
- Not a Performance Tire: Drivers seeking sharp, sporty handling for aggressive driving will find the tire’s priorities aligned more with comfort than outright cornering prowess.
- Limited Severe Winter Ability: While great in light snow, it is not a substitute for a dedicated winter tire in regions with harsh, icy winters and deep snow accumulation.
- Comfort Focus: The very plush ride may feel slightly less “connected” to some drivers who prefer more road feedback, though this is subjective.
I recommend the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus to drivers of family sedans, coupes, and crossovers who value a quiet, comfortable cabin, drive significant annual mileage, and live in regions with four distinct seasons that include rain, occasional snow, and cold temperatures. It is a perfect fit for someone who wants to install a set of tires and forget about them for years, enjoying consistent performance throughout. Conversely, I would not recommend this tire for performance enthusiasts, for drivers in areas with severe winter conditions requiring dedicated snow tires, or for those whose primary concern is maximizing dry-road cornering grip above all else. For the vast majority seeking a premium, do-it-all touring tire, the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is an outstanding selection that lives up to its promises.