thems the odds and more often than not Customer Service means the exact opposite.
Are Continetal Tires the worst or what??
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Are Continetal Tires the worst or what??
I have a set of 4 ContinetalContact tires on my 400E and they have to be the worst tires I have ever owned. And of course the problem is with the car according to the customer service people at Continental. Funny how there was never a problem with the car while the Michelins were on it.
Oh...and maybe this will help explain the poor product quality...all 4 were made in the USA.
Oh...and maybe this will help explain the poor product quality...all 4 were made in the USA.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2002
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CH95 ContinentalContact. 205/60/15 91H. Perfect for the car. Bought at the Mercedes dealer in South Orlando.....and paid huge for the priviledge. They produce a constant "drumming". Not an out of balance high speed vibration, but a resonance that you almost "FEEL" in the air in the car. BUT, the biggest complaint is that the customer service people (when you finally find one) offer only limited help. The warranty is useless. THAT is my biggest complaint. But these tires are aweful, too.
Oh, and re the Porsche crack...I guarantee you those tires are NOT made in the USA by General, oops, I mean Continental and probably Z rated....a whole different animal. Apples and oranges....so don't even go there!
Oh, and re the Porsche crack...I guarantee you those tires are NOT made in the USA by General, oops, I mean Continental and probably Z rated....a whole different animal. Apples and oranges....so don't even go there!
Last edited by Brian McL; Oct 24, 2007 at 11:01 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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1994 e320 coupe sportline
great conti tires
I have to vote FOR the conti tires
great ride took off cooper tires with better than half life left
now there is a questionable tire
my E320 coupe Sportline rides good on the conti's
great ride took off cooper tires with better than half life left
now there is a questionable tire
my E320 coupe Sportline rides good on the conti's
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Thread Starter
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Yeah....I know...and that is really discouraging.
There was a time when.....oh, never mind.
Anyway, it seems as those I will just become another unfortunate casualty of corporate greed.
In the long run it would be comforting to think that they loose, but they don't care about one custom...gee, their idea of increasing the profits is to find a cheap place to make them....tradition be damned....along with quality.
There was a time when.....oh, never mind.
Anyway, it seems as those I will just become another unfortunate casualty of corporate greed.
In the long run it would be comforting to think that they loose, but they don't care about one custom...gee, their idea of increasing the profits is to find a cheap place to make them....tradition be damned....along with quality.
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
Continential's are really good tires. Just because you're having a bad experience with them doesn't mean the quality, tradition and overall the Continential Company is bad. 
You're just one of the few who they can't satisfy.
Get new tires and make yourself happy again. You should of invested in ContisportContacts to begin with.
You're just one of the few who they can't satisfy.
Get new tires and make yourself happy again. You should of invested in ContisportContacts to begin with.
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
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From: Atlanta, GA
1995 E320 Kombi, 2006 R350 Pewter/Black
I have had bad luck with Conti's as well on my A6 could never get them balanced and get a 55-60mph wobble fixed. I just repaced the Conti's on my E320, with Kuhmos. Very poor wearlife. I have talked to a couple of shops here in Atlanta that have a very poor opinion of Conti's, I don't think your experience is very unusual.
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I have had bad luck with Conti's as well on my A6 could never get them balanced and get a 55-60mph wobble fixed. I just repaced the Conti's on my E320, with Kuhmos. Very poor wearlife. I have talked to a couple of shops here in Atlanta that have a very poor opinion of Conti's, I don't think your experience is very unusual.
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
I was thinking about Conti's for my replacement tires, but after reading reviews on Tire Rack, I decided against them. I have some Barum's (a Conti Brand) and I am not happy with them at all. Uneven tread wear and short tread life.
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From: Northern Kentucky
2011 E350 4 Matic,1994 C220,1965 Mustang, 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600
Have a tire shop pull the wheels off the car and run a road force test on the tires.
If there is excessive road force and the tires are fairly new then Continental or the dealer should honor a warranty claim as they are defective.
I have used and sold Conti's for years and never had a problem or a complaint.
However I have seen some tires with excessive road force problems from all manufactures.
Your best bet is to go back to where you had the tires installed.
Good luck.
If there is excessive road force and the tires are fairly new then Continental or the dealer should honor a warranty claim as they are defective.
I have used and sold Conti's for years and never had a problem or a complaint.
However I have seen some tires with excessive road force problems from all manufactures.
Your best bet is to go back to where you had the tires installed.
Good luck.
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generally speaking, how long your tires last/ wear is dependent on three things
how you drive
aggressive driver= quick tire wear. accelerate, brake, corner hard, your tires and brakes and engine and transmission, every mechanical system associated with driving are workign harder. so the cooling system, the charging system, etc all are being worn out quicker. tires are just the contact point for all that braking, turning and accelerative power.
conversely, drive like an old lady, and your tires will last a long time.
where you drive
city streets, hills, canyons, wear tires out much faster than long boring rides on the freeway. even driving 100 plus on the freeway is less stressful than the constant starting and stopping and turning on city streets. drivnig fast on freeway just means they get hot. they get hot accelerating, braking, and turning.
how you maintain your vehicle.
poor maintenance, not checking tire pressure, not rotating tires, not getting alignment checked, bad springs/ shocks/ suspension bushings etc will affect tire wear.
some vehicles, especially those designed for carrying heavy loads, will just wear tires unevenly. most wont. tire wear is most dependent on the driver.
how you drive
aggressive driver= quick tire wear. accelerate, brake, corner hard, your tires and brakes and engine and transmission, every mechanical system associated with driving are workign harder. so the cooling system, the charging system, etc all are being worn out quicker. tires are just the contact point for all that braking, turning and accelerative power.
conversely, drive like an old lady, and your tires will last a long time.
where you drive
city streets, hills, canyons, wear tires out much faster than long boring rides on the freeway. even driving 100 plus on the freeway is less stressful than the constant starting and stopping and turning on city streets. drivnig fast on freeway just means they get hot. they get hot accelerating, braking, and turning.
how you maintain your vehicle.
poor maintenance, not checking tire pressure, not rotating tires, not getting alignment checked, bad springs/ shocks/ suspension bushings etc will affect tire wear.
some vehicles, especially those designed for carrying heavy loads, will just wear tires unevenly. most wont. tire wear is most dependent on the driver.
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From: Nuevo México
2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
I have been told the German made Continentals are good quality, but the US made Continentals are not.
If you can ensure the tires you are buying are made in Germany (marked on the sidewall), I think you will be happy. Most Continentals that come as original equipment on German made cars are decent. Unfortunately, most Continentals sold aftermarket in the USA are made here in the old General tire plants, and IMO not good.
I have had good luck with the Continentals that came as OEM equipment on German-made Mercedes, BMW's, and VW's. I replaced the tires on one of my BMW's with aftermarket German-made Continentals, and they were fine. Then I bought a set of Continentals that were US-made, and they were terrible. I ended up returning them (after several attempts at balancing, etc.) and replacing them with Michelins.
The tire store was very helpful and sympathetic, but I won't make that mistake again. Thankfully, they carried both brands, and were able to exchange them for customer satisfaction.
Based on my experience, and what I hear from others; if you are unable to verify the Continentals are made in Germany, I would avoid them.
If you can ensure the tires you are buying are made in Germany (marked on the sidewall), I think you will be happy. Most Continentals that come as original equipment on German made cars are decent. Unfortunately, most Continentals sold aftermarket in the USA are made here in the old General tire plants, and IMO not good.
I have had good luck with the Continentals that came as OEM equipment on German-made Mercedes, BMW's, and VW's. I replaced the tires on one of my BMW's with aftermarket German-made Continentals, and they were fine. Then I bought a set of Continentals that were US-made, and they were terrible. I ended up returning them (after several attempts at balancing, etc.) and replacing them with Michelins.
The tire store was very helpful and sympathetic, but I won't make that mistake again. Thankfully, they carried both brands, and were able to exchange them for customer satisfaction.
Based on my experience, and what I hear from others; if you are unable to verify the Continentals are made in Germany, I would avoid them.
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
Tires I would recommend are the Nitto 555, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, or Falken GBR FK 451. I've had these and they where great until i sold the wheels. Right now i have Michelins PS2 and i have no complaints...
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From: the Netherlands
'01 W210 E320 CDI
Overhere in Europe we have Continental Eco contact, Premium contact and Sport contact available. I've had Continental Premium Contacts under my W124's and right now Continental Sport Contacts under my W210 and no complaints. But they are German made ones ofcourse. I know in road tests Conti's score below average under wet conditions. Michelins are always good all rounders in all areas. When my sportcontacts wear out I'm considering Michelin Pilot Premacy, these are a 'harmonic' between comfort and sport...
