Review of Continental TerrainContact A/T

[gsxr]

When we bought our 2010 LR4 two years ago, it came with fresh Toyo H/T OpenCountry tires. I'm generally not a fan of off-brand tires, but I have to say these have been very quiet on pavement, and look like they will have a lifespan of 25kmi or so. We almost never go offroad or on trails and I have no idea how they would do in those conditions. When they need replacement, the Conti TerrainContacts sound like what we'd probably go with.

Disclaimer: For winter snow/ice, we have a set of Nokian Hakka R2 SUV snows on a second set of wheels. Really happy with those as well, they're almost as quiet as the Toyos.

Edit: We have not towed anything either.

 

[cperez]

When they need replacement, the Conti TerrainContacts sound like what we'd probably go with.

It will be good to develop more of a user base/experience base for the Terrain Contact AT's. I'd like to see if my initial positive impressions hold up. There is a local LR4 owner who has Terrain Contacts and tows his track car frequently. He feels like you have to overinflate them to get the sidewall stability needed for safety and performance when towing. Since this is a special use situation, I don't let it affect my positive impressions, but it's worth noting for others who tow frequently.

 

[Robbouchard]

So for those towing travel trailers, boats etc what is your go to tyre and do you adjust air pressures when towing?

 

[ktm525]

Toyo is not an off brand. Most of their stuff is very good.

 

[cperez]

To add to the anecdotal knowledge base around the Conti TerrainContact A/T's, I was at the Land Rover Experience Vermont location for Owners Day this weekend. The official LR course had all the good stuff you would expect from a skills training center like this: off-camber, cross-axle, huge dips and rises that tested the approach/departure angles, mud/ruts, a variety of mixed surfaces, and extreme ascents/descents. After 3 hours on that course, we transitioned to some public mountain trails that were little more than goat tracks...in Vermont they call them "state roads" and they were no joke. Steep grades, cratered surfaces, eroding banks, streams running down the center of some sections, huge ruts and rocks. On the downhill sections we never got out of low range and Hill Descent Control. These details are important so that you know what the Conti's are capable of in mild to moderately severe off-road conditions. I never felt any concern about the tires' performance or potential for damage. On the advice of the instructors, we didn't even air down on any sections we traversed and our traction was outstanding.

I remain very happy with the looks and performance of this tire. We've got another wheeling event coming up this Saturday and I'll share another set of observations after that.

 

[Quijote]

Great feedback. Good to hear. Thanks!

 

[mbw]

I am going to get my 265/65R18 KO2 (E Load) put on tomorrow. Bought 5 to replace my current (old) goodyear silent armour A/T's. My rig is heavy, so i wanted the tougher tire... and its just time.

The goodyears are not worn all the way down by any means, they probably have 50k miles on them, but they wear like iron. I doubt the KO2 will last as long, but excited for the change.

 

[cperez]

I remain very happy with the looks and performance of this tire. We've got another wheeling event coming up this Saturday and I'll share another set of observations after that.

I lost my right front Conti to a sidewall slice (clear through) during this offroad event. Some details:

The trails circled the side of a mountain in West Virginia, so practically the entire day was spent off-camber. It had rained pretty good the night before, so even though it was a clear beautiful day, the ground was wet and the mud was extremely slick. Before heading out it was highly recommended that we air down to 20 psi. I really didn't want to do it but the owner of the track is a highly experienced off-roader (instructor level) who knows his property so I followed his advice. I don't know if the slice would have occurred with a tighter sidewall; I can only speculate. I must have hit a rock while nudging a bank during one maneuver.

What I can say is that on the LR4, the Conti TerrainContact A/T was spectacular on this course (other than the damage, obviously). We had built up D2s and LR3s and a D90 in our group running much more aggressive tires. The D90 and I never got stuck. A couple of steep ascents at speed were especially thrilling since they included hard turns and maintaining momentum was key in the slick muddy ruts. The LR4 on the Conti's was impressive!

I'm happy to replace this tire and hopefully can find a shop that will trim the tread to match the 11K mile wear on the other ones. I'm a fan of this tire.

PS: It was fun changing a tire while perched on a bridge made of logs lashed together.

 

[Quijote]

Sorry about the tire, but very impressed by your review. These tires seem like great road/off-road tire.

 

[mbw]

I'm thinking the extra plys and sidewall protection in these could help with that scenario.. Hope to put it to the test in the next couple weeks here.