Drivers generally describe the Continental Premium Contact 2 as a confidence-inspiring summer tyre with strong dry grip, capable wet grip, and communicative handling/feedback when pushed. Many higher-scoring reviews also mention stable braking and predictable behavior, with some reporting very long life on lighter cars or predominantly motorway use. However, a large portion of users complain about rapid treadwear (especially on the driven axle) and noticeable road noise, and several note that wet grip/aquaplaning resistance can deteriorate as the tyre wears. Overall, it's viewed as a strong performer when fresh, but often expensive to run due to wear and (for some) noise.
What owners mention most counted across 155 reviews
Fitted for 8 seasons / 70622km / 43882mi, still 3 mm profile left on our Volkswagen Up! White Up! 75PS/95NM MY2013.
I am completely astonished from those tyres' performance! Maybe it is because of the small car and its tiny weight - during the last 8 seasons i found our citycar very reliable and confident on every wet or dry road we drove.
This is the best summer tire I've driven so far. I will speak out only superlatives for Continental Premium Contact 2.
Now I am really unsure which one should I pick for the next couple of years: Michelin Primacy 4 185/50R16 81H or Continental Premium Contact 2 185/50R16 81T. Higher price, higher speed index, newer model, newer technology versus the old but well known, reliable and confident Conti model...?
Mounted as fronts on E36 which is driven as track / daily car, no ABS or ASC, car is set with -3,5 camber up front.
Contis lasted around 9000km, half of which was track style driving, drifting. Tyres tread depth from new 7mm went down to about 2,5-3mm. Tyre is rated 280AAA, fairly soft and grippy, tho its not semi slick. Gave good overall balance to car, as rears usually were not so grippy :)
On dry a lot of feedback, you can really throw car around with confidence. A lot of information what is going on with front wheels grip. No understeering with proper pressure, usually lower from typical 2,2 to 2,0-1,9bar.
When cold, around 4-7deg C, lack of temperature is showing, you need few laps to get heat into tyre, as understeering is obvious.
Wet grip was very good for the first 4000km, turn in felt really secure. On the limit very progressive, easy to control. Car would follow easily where I intended to turn, mostly sideways. After 4000km on entry of the corner or braking: understeering, sudden slip or locking one of front wheels occured, that meant these tyres are done.
I can't comment on noise, tracking tyre with no abs means flat spots.
Overall good tyre, giving a lot of information to driver, just keep in mind wet grip deteriorates FAST.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
As with other reviews this is the worst wearing tyre I have ever had in 40 years of motoring. They were OE on my Ford Transit Connect 2018MY. After 16,000 miles they are 1mm off the wear limiters. I even rotated front and rear tyres at 8,000 miles. Tyres are ok for van use with this exception of terrible wear. The wet grip is not great but satisfactory. I drive carefully and keep the tyres at the manufacturer’s pressures. I’m going to try Michelin Cross Climate + next as I’ve fitted them to my car and they are great. Kwikfit doing discount deals on them so they work out around £91 per tyre.
Which tyres do you drive?
Researching the Continental Premium Contact 2? Rate the tyres you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
I bought this used Suzuki Swift 1.3 DDIS which fitted mid life Continental Premium Contact 2 with BMW OE markings * in the 3 grooves pattern (the 4 grooves pattern is for sizes starting from 205).
The tyres always felt very secure and grippy, braking feels secure thanks to the front tyres grip.
Driving in the city you can go round roundabouts at high speeds feeling always secure.
Rain is never an issue even now with the remaining tread approaching the legal limit.
Living near hills with nice twisty roads I took the chance to drive in a sporty way and the tyres never disappointed, quite the opposite, entering bends at high speeds the front feels very planted and the feedback from the road is always excellent, communication between steering wheel and road is always sincere, the tyres never fail to tell you what they are going to do and they let you know well in advance when they are approaching their limit.
These tyres also allow for good mileage and fuel saving. The other side of the coin is a higher wear rate compared to Michelins energy savers I have on a similar car.
Soon I will replace them with all seasons approaching winter and I would honestly buy them again.
This is my 2nd buy of this model and this tyre proved as very good, i'm driving on 01' Mitsubishi Galant 2.0 ea2a 4g63 since 2007 until now (2020) and swap set of conti contact 2 two times and this is my experience:
Very very good quality, i live in country with lot of sun and tyres hold 5 years and still have good performence. Good dry and wet road grip, with distorted road is OK but not the best as Kleber or Goodyear tyres, if you driving in smooth road this is the best tyre, highway also is great ride but quite noise, even in lower speed (50-60 kmh). Wear is great and even after 5 years still have lot slots. after 2 swapping and total 9 years with this model i like to change for more comfort tyres, still in my country not all roads is perfect and i need more softness ride.
If in my country there was no 6 years limit law for tyres, i was keep using my correct Conticontact 2.
Thank you Continental for making very good tyres and i real like it and definitely recommend it.
OE on new 2018 Ford Transit Connect SWB Van. Overall seem OK. Poor grip if mud or leaves on the road, otherwise OK. Braking satisfactory both wet and dry. Live in Lake District, England, so wet a lot of the time but little snow.
Main issue is with wear. New vehicle which has done 9,000 miles of careful driving and the front tyres have 3mm tread left, the wear is even. Rear wear is satisfactory. Van has been lightly loaded and tyre pressures as per Ford spec and checked weekly. Fastest wearing tyres I've ever had, so I won't be buying again. I'm looking to replace with Michelin CrossClimate+
Had these on my mk5 vw polo. By far one of the best tyres in the premium class.
Grip in the dry is very good and confidence inspiring. Still excellent in the wet. Will aquaplane a little in extremely wet conditions. Does well to maintain traction when taking off from standstill. Wear is also reasonably good. I like how quiet they are as well.
A comfortable and dynamic tire with reasonably low road noise, good compliance and good feedback. The tire grips well in wet and dry conditions and seems to offer an improvement in braking over the previous Dunlop Sport Max that were on the car.
Long term review Continental Premium Contact 2 (CPC2).
These were equipped as the stock tyre, from the factory. The first set, had 4 grooves (84v) and I didn't rotate them. The replacements sets (front only), are the XL (88v) version, these only had 3 grooves, in the stock size.
The first, 4 grooves sets lasted longer (wear wise):
15,000 miles (July 2013 - Aug 2015) on the front.
35000 miles (July 2013 - March 2018)
The replacement fronts sets, 3 grooves (CPC2 - 88V), didn't fare as well (ware wise).
Replaced at 15,000 miles (Aug 2015- Aug 2016) and 25,000 miles (Aug 2016 - March 2018)
Cornering at speed and feedback on limits of traction, is good adding confidence, to driving. Grip in the dry and wet is good, until they drop below 2.5 mm. They sometimes lose traction (not often) and don't hold the road as well. The 3 grooves, version are more prone to traction loss vs the 4 grooves. Once the temp drops (4c or below) and the tyres have worn to 3mm or lower, they feel very stiff/rigid. Until they get some heat in them.
The side wall of the rear right tyre must have been curbed (badly) as a piece came off, but the still stayed strong.
They are nosey and the rolling stat is F, using more fuel, which over time will add up.
2 tyres cost:
2015 £168 / 2016 £168 / 2018 £184
I didn't want to replace with the same again. As this tyre has been replace by Continental Premium Contact 5 and now 6. Which isn't available in my size, (what up with that Continental). Last time I checked, the ford fiesta is the UK best selling car. I've notice several version, of the newer 2018 (fiesta) no longer use Continental, but the Primacy 3
After reading the reviews and feedback. I short listed Michelin Primacy 3 and Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance.
I've just replace all 4, Continental with Goodyear, which did cost more.
So I'm hoping for better ware, grip, noise and mpg (time will tell).
These replaced a pair of Toyo T1-R tyres on my Clio Sport. They exceeded my expectations by quite a bit and they are far better than the Toyo's in every way other than ride comfort. I especially like the feedback they give when driving and I am also impressed by the wet weather grip and progressiveness at the limit. I drive my car very hard and this tyre delivers.
