• New summer tire leaves 51 competitors trailing behind with a balanced performance at the highest technological level

• Autobild: “Best driving characteristics on wet and dry roads, dynamic handling performance with precision steering response, short braking distances in the wet and dry, and superior mileage”

• 13 tires in test fail safety check

In Autobild’s big summer tire test, the new PremiumContact 6 finished in top slot at its first attempt (see issue 17/17). The magazine accredited the tire with “best driving characteristics on wet and dry roads, dynamic handling performance with a precise steering response, and short braking distances in the wet and dry,” and praised its “superior mileage”. Summing up, the experts wrote: “The clear winner of this comparative test is the new PremiumContact 6 from Continental. It never slipped up in any of the twelve test disciplines and won not only the overall test but also the title of “Eco-Champion”.

“We are delighted at this outstanding initial test result, because for our tire developers it represents two things at once: a major endorsement for their work and the ideal motivation to continue developing solutions at the very highest technological level in the future,” said Alexander Bahlmann, Head of PR, Passenger and Light Truck Tires Worldwide at Continental.

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AutoBild tested 52 tire models in size 225/50 R 17 from European, American and Asian manufacturers. The test vehicle was a BMW 3 Series, although this size of tire also fits a large number of compact and mid-range cars. The magazine also warned against buying 13 models of tire which failed the safety check due to “dangerously long” braking distances.

The new PremiumContact 6 from Continental combines top-class safety characteristics with a high level of comfort, a precise steering response and a good environmental performance. To attain this new level of engineering, the tire developers at Continental have developed new compounds, optimized the tread design by borrowing from the high-tech SportContact 6 sports tire, and created a tread that makes for a particularly comfortable ride. From now on, the new PremiumContact 6 will gradually be replacing its two predecessors, the ContiSportContact 5 and the ContiPremiumContact 5. In its very first year, the new tire will be available in 70 sizes, for rims from 16 to 21 inches to fit passenger cars and SUVs.