Im in the Market for some MAX / Ultra High Performance Summer Tires.

The Continetal ContiSportContact 3 (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/us/en/continental/automobile/themes/car_tires/performance/conti_sport_contact3/contisportcontact3_en.html) seem very promising according to reviews.

Does anyone have expereince with Continental?

They look very similar to the summer tires on the Civic Si which is like Michelin Pilot Exalto sport or something. Having driven the Si frequently in rain and dry the tires are very good so I'm sure these with almost the same pattern should do well.

Furple,

You can't judge a book by its cover. Tire pattern is important, BUT it is in no way indicative of how good a tire will be performance wize. There is sidewall stiffness, compounds used to make the tire.

I was always partial to the Bridgestone Potenza line of tires. My current General UHP's have great grip in corners, but off the line traction is so-so, but that has to do with the early torque of the v6-6 accord. As a matter of strictly personal opinion, I was never too fond of continental tires. Go to TireRack.com and find out how does it compare to others in its class price wise and performance wise. I think the decision will be simple from that point.

Go to TireRack.com and find out how does it compare to others in its class price wise and performance wise. I think the decision will be simple from that point.


I just did that and here are the Tire Survery Results (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=MP&VT=null&sortValue=1)

Looks to me that the Good Year Eagle F1 GS-D3 is the way to go if we take the mileage reported and rankings into account.

24+ million miles beats out 400k miles of the Continental tire.

Looks to me that the Good Year Eagle F1 GS-D3 is the way to go if we take the mileage reported and rankings into account.

24+ million miles beats out 400k miles of the Continental tire.

Continental came in Second (http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/tests/CandD_gy_f1_gs_d3/CandD_gy_f1_gs_ds.pdf):

Continetal ContiSportContact 3 were original equipment tires on my former car (2002 BMW 330i) which I replaced at 30,000 with same tires. I lived in Florida at the time, and in Florida they use coral as aggregate in asphalt, which tears up tires lessening their useful life. They are a 60,000 mile tire, great riding, and smooth. I kept tires rotated, balanced, and alignment was always right on. I sold my BMW as a trade on on '09 Honda Accord Coupe. Sad to see it go, but cost of ownership was reaching beyond my means. If you can get a ride in a car which has Continental tires, do it. I believe you will like. Regards

Richard

Continetal ContiSportContact 3 were original equipment tires on my former car (2002 BMW 330i) which I replaced at 30,000 with same tires. I lived in Florida at the time, and in Florida they use coral as aggregate in asphalt, which tears up tires lessening their useful life. They are a 60,000 mile tire, great riding, and smooth. I kept tires rotated, balanced, and alignment was always right on...
Either you had a different Continental tire (ones w/ a treadlife warranty) or you had ContiSportContact 3 & assumed you had a treadlife warranty. Long-story-short, the ContiSportContact 3 don't come w/ a treadlife warranty.

The ContiSportContact 3 is a great max' performance summer tire, albeit at a cost. Other similar max' performance summer tires include:

- Bridgestone Potenza RE50A Pole Position *
- Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3
- Michelin Pilot Sport 2
- Yokohama ADVAN Sport

* my personal recommendation


Ignition_key mentioned being keen towards "ultra high-performance summer tires", which are actually classified below max' performance summer tires (ie. ContiSportContact 3) in terms of performance capabilities. I believe extreme performance summer tires was the desired type of tire category sought. These will offer better dry grip, better handling/steering-response, better braking, better overall performance... at about near half the cost of max' performance summer tires. However, the compromise will be average-to-good wet traction, less refined ride quality, and more aggressive treadwear (ie. less treadlife).

Examples of recommendable extreme performance summer tires include:

- Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec *
- Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
- Kumho Ecsta XS
- Falken Azenis RT-615
- Yokohama Advan Neova AD07

* my personal recommendation


Outside of the snow-belt, extreme performance summer tires are o.k. for year-round driving. . .

Not sure but i think those continentals come on a lot of BMWs--- stock on my father's 330ci.... they dont hold up to rough roads at alll... he gets a blow out every few months up in NYC with them... ever since he switched to Falkens he's not had a problem

if the roads in your area aren't rough or bad... you'll probably not have an issue.

Ignition_key mentioned being keen towards "ultra high-performance summer tires", which are actually classified below max' performance summer tires (ie. ContiSportContact 3) in terms of performance capabilities. I believe extreme performance summer tires was the desired type of tire category sought. These will offer better dry grip, better handling/steering-response, better braking, better overall performance... at about near half the cost of max' performance summer tires. However, the compromise will be average-to-good wet traction, less refined ride quality, and more aggressive treadwear (ie. less treadlife).


Thanks for your input. I need "SUMMER ONLY TIRES" and am looking for the following in order of sequence.

1) Excellent Road Traction
2) LOW noise
3) Comfortable Tire


Wet Traction and thread wear are not important and snow traction not required.

I've been running Bridgestone Potenza RE05A's as my summer tire for the last 3 summers. They are excellent and fit your 3 criteria very well. I don't track my car, but they clearly have a ton of grip. Only very very slightly louder than my stock Michelins (which I'm still using for winter - going with dedicated shows soon). Not much harsher than stock as well. I suspect the difference in ride is due to their lower profile (45 vs 50) than my stock tires. Though not a priority for you, they are absolutely great in the wet. Alas, they do wear quickly.

Consumer Search lists the Continental ContiExtremeContact as the best budget summer tire out there, but overall, they give the nod to the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 as being the all-over best max performance summer tire on the market (although at twice the price).

Personally, I've had great results with the Yokohama Avid V4s, as have a lot of others on here. It does seem to be one of the best matches to the Accord. It is an all-season performance tire, but it also meets all three of your criteria - it has great traction in all conditions, it's quiet, and it's a comfortable tire. It also has a 60,000 mile treadlife warranty. I've been very happy with it. Another all-season performance tire that gets good ratings across the board (pretty much tied with the Avid V4s) is the Dunlop SP Sport Signature.

Going max performance usually means stiff sidewalls and soft compounds. Stiff sidewalls translate to excellent cornering, but at the cost of ride comfort. Soft compounds mean tenacious grip, but zero treadlife warranty. It's all a tradeoff. You say you don't care about treadlife, but why sacrifice it if you don't have to? And I don't know if you're going to be very happy with the stiff sidewall of a max performance tire. Unless you're putting those tires on a Dodge Viper or Corvette ZR1, I really recommend a good all-season performance tire like the Yokohama or the Dunlop.

I failed to mention that for tire shopping, www.tirerack.com is an excellent resource, even if you don't plan to buy from them. Lots of ratings and reviews, tire selector guide, etc. It's really great for slicing through all the noise out there to find just the right tire for you.

Consumer Search lists the Continental ContiExtremeContact as the best budget summer tire out there

Stiff sidewalls translate to excellent cornering, but at the cost of ride comfort. Soft compounds mean tenacious grip, but zero treadlife warranty. It's all a tradeoff. You say you don't care about treadlife, but why sacrifice it if you don't have to? And I don't know if you're going to be very happy with the stiff sidewall of a max performance tire. Unless you're putting those tires on a Dodge Viper or Corvette ZR1, I really recommend a good all-season performance tire like the Yokohama or the Dunlop.

I put 2 sets of ContiExtremeContact's on a previous car. I really liked them. The fact that I put 2 sets on my car demonstrates that I thought highly of them. But they are a performance all-season tire. They did quite well in Michigan winters.

I don't agree that all performance tires ride poorly. My Bridgestones are quite comfortable. I do agree that putting a max performance tire on an Accord is probably overkill. I plan to get a more moderate tire when I replace my Pole Positions. Mostly due to cost since I'll be lucky to get much more than 20,000 mi on my sticky summer only tires.

But they are a performance all-season tire.You're right - I misread the listing. My bad.

I do agree that putting a max performance tire on an Accord is probably overkill. I plan to get a more moderate tire when I replace my Pole Positions. Mostly due to cost since I'll be lucky to get much more than 20,000 mi on my sticky summer only tires.

The OEM tires on my 09 Accord are the Michelin PRIMACY HP's (Grand Touring Summer).

So if Extreme and Max Performance tires are an Overkill on the Accord, then what are more choices IF i want tires that are better than the OEMS?

The OEM tires on my 09 Accord are the Michelin PRIMACY HP's (Grand Touring Summer).

So if Extreme and Max Performance tires are an Overkill on the Accord, then what are more choices IF i want tires that are better than the OEMS?You've clearly gotten the optional high performance tires that Honda has started marketing of late. According to Tire Rack, the stock tire for your car is the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4, a V-rated tire.

If you want to improve performance, I'd stick with a V-rated tire (anything higher and you start to lose treadlife, and you don't really need a higher speed rating), but move from a grand touring tire to a high performance tire. Grand touring tires are designed for a softer, more luxury ride, while performance tires put the emphasis on cornering, etc.

I mentioned the Yokohama and Dunlop. Also rated highly for your car is the Goodyear Eagle GT. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus is a lot more expensive, but it gets very strong ratings as well. Really, though, I recommend a visit to tirerack.com.

According to TireRack:

Ultra High Performance (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?width=245%2F&ratio=45&diameter=18&type=UHP)


Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport
Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
Yokohama S.drive
General Exclaim UHP
BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
Kumho Ecsta SPT


Max Performance tires (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?width=245%2F&ratio=45&diameter=18&type=MP)

Pirelli PZero
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Continental ContiSportContact 3
Michelin Pilot Sport
Sumitomo HTR Z III


Between MAX performance, it would have to be either the Michelin, Continental or Sumitomos. If Ulta High Performace then I would have to decide between Michelin, Bridgestone or Yokohamas.

Arghhhhhhhhh this is getting hard!

I can't speak specifically for the S.drive, but I've had Yokohamas on two different cars - the Avid TRZ on my old Civic and now the Avid V4s on my Accord - and I have loved them. They seem to consistently be a great tire for the money.

Michelins I'm no fan of. They've got a lot of totally crap tires in their lineup, and even the ones that are decent, I'm still not convinced they're worth the money. The others I've heard good things about but don't personally have any experience with them.

I have had the Sdrives (225/45R18) with Honda Aftermarket rims. THey grip well BUT they are noisy....have gotten about 40K on them....ready to replace. I am looking at the Contiential Extreme Contact DWS. 235/45R18. They have good ratings and a 50K warranty...which I like. I have not pulled the trigger on them yet. I live in Orlando and need them for heat and rain....and these do well according to the reviews etc. I generally love Michelins....but they always wear quickly.....just too quickly for the money spent IMHO.

Any feedback on these?

Man of Steel, I lived in South Florida for 15 years and in 2007 moved up to Seattle. While in South Florida I had Continental Contact Sport tires installed on my car. These tires had a 50 K warranty, but were worn out at 30 K. Reason? Florida uses crushed coral stone as aggregate in asphalt. Coral stone has sharp edges and literally shreds tires. No matter what tire you install, as long as you live in Florida your tires will wear prematurely. Driving at high speeds (toll way 70 mph) causes a higher wear than lower speeds (City service streets), Regards

Richard

I have ContiExtremeContact and its a perfect balance between performance and comfort.

I got mine @ the junk yard for $100 all 4 with 95% thread left.

I know SFLA can be tough...lived down there my first 23 years. Orlando has some rough roads for sure....some of the newer stuff they are putting down up here seems different.....but that stuff needs to be tough because of the sun.

Thanks for the feedback!:)

Well after some serious consideration on this....I think I am going to go with the Pilot Sport A/S Plus 235/45R18. I have the HFP 18 inch rims. The tires I was looking at are near that price and the $70 rebate puts them at about even. I had Michelins on my Trailblazer SS and on my Marauder....that initial sticker shock is a killer BUT they always seem to be great tires.....

:thmsup:

I've heard these are pretty good tires, and I've seen the ContiSport 2 on a bunch of Benzes. If you're going for Max Performance, these won't be exactly what you're looking for.

-GT

Well got my new Michelins on Friday and they are SWEET! For months I had been getting some "pulling" and rough riding on my Sdrives and was going to get an alignment etc....after the new balanced tires....no pulling. Tires are very smooth and hug the road with no roll. THey are quiter than my Sdrives....not silent but about 50% quieter....they hum a bit but it does not get louder as you get faster....stops at about 25mph.

There is a $70 rebate on Michelins and this put them at almost even for the tires I was considering.....now just have to see how they wear over time.....but they are VERY NICE!

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
235/45R18 XL 98Y BSW

I got them at Discount Tire in Orlando at Sandlake and John Young. They did a great job and were very nice. Finished in about hour....and cleaned and polished the rims after they were done.

Some people may rip Discount Tire....but this one in particular is a great place. I had a flat (with my Sdrives) they patched it for free and in about 30 minutes. So when everyone had a similar price going to them was a no brainer.

See pics attached.