Continental Tires Vs Michelin

‍Overview

Continental and Michelin are among the most popular brands in the tire industry today. When it comes to tire sales, Continental ranks third behind, behind Bridgestone and Michelin.

According to Statista, Continental generated approximately $12 billion while Michelin generated around $25 billion in tire-related revenue, in the 2020 financial year.

Both brands sell tires in almost all parts of the globe, from North America to South America, Europe to Asia, Africa to Australia.

So, between these two tire brands, which one is the better choice? The truth is, the answer is not always cut and dry. Some drivers will prefer to purchase Continental tires while others will go for Michelin tires.

About Continental Tires

Continental is a well-established brand in the tire industry. Launched in 1898, this brand is renowned for its great contribution to grooved tires. And with more than 100 years of experience behind this brand, it’s a sure bet if your vehicle needs a new set of tires.

While Continental may trail popular tire brands like Bridgestone, Firestone and Michelin in terms of revenue, its collection of tires is one of the most comprehensive in the industry.

Whether you are looking for truck tires, car tires, SUV tires, or tires for your minivan, there’s a high chance you will find a reliable set from Continental.

Also, this tire brand manufactures tires in almost all categories, ranging from all-season touring tires, summer performance tires, all-terrain tires, off-road tires, and winter tires, just to name a few.

Continental produces both replacement tires and original equipment (OE) tires. It’s currently the OE tire supplier of premium vehicle manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW as well as the Volkswagen Group.

About Michelin Tires

Michelin has been producing high-quality tires for more than 100 years. And since then, it has established itself as one of the leading tire brands in the world.

As noted earlier, Michelin ranked behind Bridgestone in total tire revenue in the 2020 financial year. And this is enough proof that drivers from all parts of the globe trust this tire manufacturer.

Michelin also owns BF Goodrich – a brand renowned for performance tires and SUV tires. It also acquired Uniroyal tires – a budget-friendly tire manufacturer.

Michelin competes in almost all areas in the tire industry. It produces truck tires, SUV tires, and car tires. Also, it manufactures tires for almost all conditions and terrains.

Design Features and Technologies

Continental tires and Michelin tires are engineered to deliver top-notch performances in varying conditions and terrains. To achieve these objectives, both tire brands have equipped their tires with advanced features and technologies.

In this section, we will take a closer look at each brand’s design features and check how they compare and contrast.

Continental Tires

Continental is a German-based tire manufacturer. And German engineering is well known for its precision, thus giving these tires an edge when it comes to performance and design. Some of Continental tires’ key technologies include:

Continental ContiSeal Technology

Whenever you are driving out there, something as tiny as a piece of glass, a nail or even a sharp stone can puncture your tire, bringing your journey to a stop.

And if you were rushing somewhere, then you can be highly inconvenienced, if you are using other tires.

But with Continental tires, you don’t have to cut your trip short or waste time changing the tire, thanks to ContiSeal technology.

As the name suggests, this technology works by sealing your tire, meaning you don’t have to change it, wait for roadside assistance, or call for help.  

According to Continental, this technology can seal up to 80% of tire punctures right away.

Continental Run-flat Technology

Over the last couple of years, most tire manufacturers are now manufacturing run-flat tires. And Continental has not been left behind.

Simply put, run-flat tires refer to a specific type of tire, which you can continue driving on even after it gets a puncture.

According to Continental, you can continue driving on its run-flat tires after a puncture for another 50 miles or so.

With these tires, you don’t have to change the tire, wait for roadside assistance or call for help.

So, whether you were attending your child’s sports day or you were rushing somewhere else, you will make it there on time.

Continental ContiSilent Technology

Road noise and vibrations can make it hard to enjoy your favorite music while driving or hold conversations with your passengers. Your children will also find it hard to enjoy some quality sleep, especially if it’s a long trip.

To this end, Continental’s tire engineers came up with a technology to address this issue. And this is the ContiSilent technology.

With this Continental ContiSilent technology, a tire is outfitted with an inner tire absorber, attached to the tread’s inner surface.

It will act as cushioning between the tire and the road, thus absorbing road noise and vibrations, resulting in a quiet, smooth and comfortable ride.

Michelin

Just like Continental, Michelin is also renowned for continued technical innovations. And through such innovations, Michelin has managed to come up with various technologies and features, designed to improve various aspects of its tires’ performance.

Some of the brand’s most popular tire technologies and features include Michelin Acoustic technology, Selfseal technology and Michelin Track Connect.

Michelin Acoustic Technology

Similar to Continental, Michelin has also outfitted some of its tires with noise-reducing technology, known as the Michelin Acoustic Technology.

According to Michelin, this technology works by reducing vibrations when a tire is rolling, resulting in a reduction in cabin noise by approximately 20%.

And as a result, the driver and the passengers can enjoy hands-free communication while making the ride even more enjoyable.

Michelin Selfseal Technology

Nails, screws, sharp rocks and small glass pieces of glass can puncture your tire, leading to time wastage and inconveniences.

But thanks to Michelin’s Selfseal technology, you will not experience such issues. This technology uses a natural rubber sealant, placed inside the tire.

When a puncture happens, it will immediately surround that object, fill the hole and prevent air leaking, thus maintaining optimal pressure.

Some of Michelin’s tires equipped with this technology include the Primacy Tour A/S, Energy Saver A/S, and Premier A/S, just to name a few.

Tire Categories

As mentioned earlier, both Continental and Michelin compete in almost all categories. Besides producing tires for different types of vehicles, both companies also produce tires for different surfaces and conditions. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular tires from both brands.

Continental

Whether you are looking for all-season touring tires, summer tires, all-terrain tires, or off-road tires, you are assured of finding a Continental tire that can fit your truck, sedan, or SUV. Some of the brand’s most popular tires include:

• Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All Season
• Continental TrueContact
• Continental PurContact LS
• Continental ContiProContact
• Continental WinterContact

Michelin

If you swear by the Michelin brand, then you also have plenty of tire options to choose from, depending on your vehicle and driving conditions.

It offers both OE tires and replacement tires. However, you should note that its OE tires don’t come with a mileage warranty. Some of Michelin’s best-selling tires include:

• Michelin CrossClimate2
• Michelin Defender T+H
• Michelin Premier A/S
• Michelin Latitude Tour
• Michelin Primacy Tour A/S

Price Range

Continental tires are designed for tire buyers looking for a high-quality yet affordable tire. On average, its tires cost approximately $70 on the lower end up to around $500 on the higher end.

On the other hand, Michelin’s tires are quite expensive. Its tires cost approximately $90 to $530 for a standard tire.

Warranties and Guarantees

Both Continental and Michelin offer standard tire warranties and guarantees. Michelin tires are offered under the Michelin Promise Plan while Continental tires are covered under the Continental Total Confidence Plan.

Both manufacturers offer a workmanship and materials warranties and a mileage warranty.

Also, both manufacturers offer a 60-day customer satisfaction guarantee as well as roadside assistance service.

Verdict

So, which is the better brand between Continental and Michelin? Determining the better tire brand between these two manufacturers may not be as easy as it appears. It all depends on your preferences. For instance, if you are looking for premium tires and you are willing to dig deeper into your pocket, then Michelin may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for high-quality yet affordable tires, then you should go for Continental tires.