Continental wins best in class in Which? magazine tyre test

Continental’s ContiEcoContact 3 took the honours with the highest score in Which? magazine’s supermini and city car tyre test this week. The tyre won the leading consumer magazine’s extensive product testing, outperforming all other brands examined to take the top spot.

Which? analysed 13 premium, quality and budget brands in the 155/70 R13 T size test. The ContiEcoContact 3 stole the limelight with the highest score of 68%. Showing best in class performance, Continental’s fuel saving champion, scored a solid 4-stars across tests in wet and dry braking, handling, wet grip both on straight and bendy roads and wear. Research also showed that the ContiEcoContact 3 was widely available compared to other brands.

The verdict from the testers at Which? Magazine said; “The ContiEcoContact3 is the best in this size. It has four star ratings in every category apart from noise, and even here it doesn't disgrace. It’s widely available so shop around for the best price."

The ContiEcoContact 3 has an asymmetrical tread pattern design with a circumferentially stiff tread pattern centre and compact outer shoulder giving optimum ground contact for shorter braking distance on wet and dry roads. Its innovative and flexible silica compound gives the tyre its low rolling resistance hence it fuel saving qualities. The ContiEcoContact 3 can increase a car's fuel efficiency by around 5%. This translates into fuel savings of roughly 56 litres for an average car's annual mileage and thus savings of around £45 at the pump and a 135-kg reduction in CO2 emissions.

The ContiEcoContact 3 has a distinguished record when in comes to product tests. In 2006, it was commended in the Auto Express Product Honours.

The Which? test covered two of the top selling sizes in the UK tyre market, the 155/70 R13 T, suitable for supermini and city cars such as the Ford Ka, and the 205/55 R16 V for medium to large cars from the Honda Civic to the Mercedes C-Class.

Continentals ContiPremiumContact 2 was a best buy recommendation for Which?’s 205/55 R16 V test. The ContiPremiumContact 2 also scored 68% only 1% point behind the best in this category taking a maximum 5-star rating in the dry handling test. The tyre, fitted as original equipment on the Mercedes C and E Class and Renault Laguna among others, received 4-star ratings in wet and dry braking, wet grip, wear and noise. Testers said; “ContiPremiumContact 2 tyres are available in 80% of retailers(…).They grip really well(…).”