Continental CrossContact LX Sport Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 85%
Wet Conditions – 70%
Snow – 70%
Comfort – 80%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 75%
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The Continental CrossContact LX Sport offers the best of both worlds. Just like premium all-season tires, it provides a cushioned ride with muted road noise. At the same time, it offers the kind of grip needed to keep you safe at speeds well above the limit.
But the LX Sport shares various similarities with performance tires, too. Take, for instance, its asymmetric tread design. A common sight on sport-oriented tires, the tread pattern helps this model offers improved handling and performance vis-à-vis all-season tires.
A circumferential rib further distinguishes it from its colleagues. By firming up its shoulder, the rib helps the CrossContact LX Sport offer a precise steering response. As such, if you want a tire offering the perfect blend of comfort and performance, consider the LX Sport.
Pros
- Delivers outstanding dry performance
- Excellent handling and cornering stability
- Offers a relatively quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- Wet traction could be better
- No treadwear warranty
The Features of the Continental CrossContact LX Sport
The Continental CrossContact LX Sport gives you many reasons to install it on your vehicle.
First and foremost, its tri-net silica tread compound makes it a reliable performer 365 days a year. Together with the biting edges on its head, the LX Sport enhances this tire’s traction and grip, making sure it retains its road contact on wet and light snowy roads.
Then there is the asymmetric tread pattern, which boosts this tire’s handling and responsiveness. It also provides this tire with a larger outside tread block than your average all-season tire. The result? Better grip on the road and much improved cornering stability.
Befitting a tire with sporty credentials, the LX Sport has a built-in rim protector to protect its wheels from curb damage. What’s more, this tire also boosts run-flat capabilities. That means you can continue driving it for a certain distance even if it gets punctured.
Next comes Continental’s ContiSilent Technology, which does precisely what its name implies. The technology reduces cabin noise via a layer of sound-absorbing foam inside this tire’s tread. As such, you can count on the LX Sport not to growl at higher speeds.
CrossContact LX Sport in Dry Conditions
The CrossContact LX Sport wins you over with its dry performance.
Whether cruising down a coastal highway or zigzagging along curvy roads, this model stays glued to the road as long as it is bone dry. Also, there is no hint of over- or understeering at the corners, giving you the confidence to attack bends at speed.
All of this shouldn’t be surprising since these are sport-oriented tires. Unlike traditional all-season tires, which are built for longevity, these tires are developed to offer high-speed stability. So, unless their tread depth has hit 2/32-inch, you won’t experience any scares.
Overall, the CrossContact LX Sport is a capable performer on dry roads.
CrossContact LX Sport on Wet or Slippery Roads
Is the CrossContact LX Sport one of the best tires for rain? Nope.
Can you count on these tires to keep you safe on slippery roads? Probably.
Look, these tires may have circumferential grooves and biting edges for aiding in wet traction. But as other drivers have noted, this tire may slip if pushed hard on greasy roads.
So, anybody who drives a lot in the rain might be better off with dedicated A/S tires. However, if your area receives less than its fair share of showers, and you have the common sense to slow down when it’s raining, the LX Sport might be a good bet.
CrossContact LX Sport in Snow
The CrossContact LX Sport performs decently in light wintry conditions.
This isn’t the least bit surprising, considering its tread compound is made of silica, a mineral that makes up most of sand. As experts have noted elsewhere, silica has the uncanny ability to improve a tire’s low-temperature flexibility, helping it maintain winter grip.
That said, silica can only go so far in helping a tire with its snow performance. For maximum stability in sub-zero temperatures, a tire also needs a fair few biting edges. This model lacks that, which explains why some drivers are unhappy with its ice traction.
Overall, if you drive slowly, the LX Sport won’t deceive you in light snow.
CrossContact LX Sport for Off-Roading
The CrossContact LX Sport isn’t designed specifically for off-roading.
Neither is its tread compound optimized for traction on loose surfaces. Nor are its sidewalls as strong as those commonly seen on dedicated off-road tires. As such, the risk of excessive slippage and/or tire damage will be high if you use this model in challenging off-road conditions.
However, it may hold its own on less demanding terrain.
Think of dirt roads, grassy fields, or trails with zero off-road-specific obstacles. That is because all three terrains don’t require you to have specialized off-road tires.
All in all, the LX Sport can be used for light off-roading if paired with an SUV or crossover with off-road-oriented capability.
CrossContact LX Sport for Sporty Driving
When gauging a tire’s utility for sporty driving, the following factors come to our aid:
- Steering response. Whether you’re cruising above the speed limit (not recommended) or taking a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood, this tire will provide a direct steering response. It will also take milliseconds to respond to driver inputs.
- Handling. Like a good sporty tire, the LX Sport offers responsive and precise handling. Equally importantly, it feels predictable during fast lane changes, giving you the confidence needed to maintain control over the vehicle during those quick maneuvers.
- Traction. Whenever I test a tire’s sporty credentials, I always look for how well it grips the road during rapid acceleration, fast cornering, and sudden braking? Fortunately, during our road test, this CrossContact LX Sport delivered on all three counts.
Does the CrossContact LX Sport Ride Comfortably?
Despite its inclination toward being a sporty tire, the CrossContact LX Sport rides comfortably.
Much of the credit for the silent and comfy ride goes to ContiSilent, a noise-reducing technology. This technology relies on a layer of polyurethane foam, which is placed inside this model’s tread. The PU foam is fastened to the tread in such a way that it maintains its thickness at all temperatures.
If Continental is to be believed, the ContiSilent Technology lowers road noise by up to 9 dB (A), a relatively small difference in sound level. However, the actual noise reduction level will vary based on your driving speed, the vehicle you’re driving, and road conditions.
CrossContact LX Sport Warranty
Continental doesn’t back the LX Sport with a treadwear warranty.
In its place, the tire manufacturer offers a uniformity warranty of 12 months or the tire’s first 2/32-inch of wear, whichever comes first.
Additionally, the LX Sport comes with a workmanship and materials warranty of 6 years, while also boasting a free replacement guarantee for the first 2/32-inch of wear or first year.
Finally, if you aren’t satisfied with this tire’s performance, Continental provides a 60-day satisfaction trial in which you can return it without having to answer any questions.
Continental CrossContact LX Sport Pricing: Is It Worth the Money?
At the time of writing, the LX Sport’s price starts from around $220.
True, the price is not even mid-range for an HP A/S tire. But the LX Sport justifies it with its outstanding dry performance, excellent comfort levels, and decent snow grip.
True, there are less pricey high-performance all-season tires out there, with Pirelli’s P Scorpion Zero a notable mention. But those models fail to match this model’s dry performance.
So, if you’re in the market for a premium tire in this category, the LX Sport is definitely worth the money.
Should I Buy the Continental CrossContact LX Sport?
It depends on the purpose you’d be using this tire for.
For instance, if you are the sort of driver who regularly pushes their vehicle to its limits on dry roads, the CrossContact LX Sport won’t disappoint. Its handling, steering responsiveness, and straight-line tracking will all be top-notch.
However, the LX Sport may not fit the bill if you’re in the market for a conventional all-season tire. That is because most traditional (and premium) A/S tire offers better wet and light snow traction.
What Vehicles Will the Continental CrossContact LX Sport Fit?
Here’s a sample list of vehicles that this tire will fit:
- Audi Q3, Q5, and Q7
- Acura MDX and RDX
- BMW X5 and X6
- Land Rover Range Rover V8 Vogue and Sport 3.0
- Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe
- Volvo XC90 and XC90 Hybrid
- Honda Element and Pilot II
Tire Sizes for Continental CrossContact LX Sport
16 Inch
- 215/70R16 100H
- 215/65R16 98H
17 Inch
- 235/65R17 104H
- 235/55R17 99V
- 215/60R17 96H
- 225/60R17 9H
18 Inch
- 235/50R18 97V
- 235/60R18 103H
- 235/50R18 97H
- 235/60R18 103H
- 235/60R18 107V
- 235/65R18 106H
- 235/65R18 106T
- 245/60R18 105T
- 255/60R18 112V
- 255/55R18 109H
- 235/60R18 103H
19 Inch
- 245/55R19 103H
- 235/55R19 101H
- 255/50R19 107H
- 255/60R19 109H
- 255/55R19 111W
- 245/55R19 107H
- 235/55R19 101V
20 Inch
- 275/45R20 110H
- 265/45R20 108H
- 255/45R20 101H
- 245/45R20 102H
21 Inch
- 275/45R21 111W
- 265/45R21 108W
- 285/45R21 113H
- 315/45R21 113H
22 Inch
- 275/40R22 108Y
- 275/40R22 108Y
- 265/40R22 106Y
- 265/35R22 102W
- 285/40R22 110H
- 285/40R22 110Y
- 295/30R22 103W