Continental TerrainContact A/T Tire Review and Rating

Written By James Hawthorne
Last Updated January 26, 2022

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Dry

Wet

Snow

Comfort

Noise

Treadwear

Pros

All-terrain capability
Toughness and durability
Comfortable and silent ride
Works great on wet or icy roads

Cons

Not ideal for extreme off-road terrain

Continental was not mincing words when it said the TerrainContact A/T offers the perfect balance between off-road traction and on-road comfort because it does. There’s an obscene amount of engineering that went into developing the TerrainContact A/T, and it remains one of the best and finest A/T tires for on-road use.

First released in 2016, the TerrainContact A/T is Continental’s first attempt at making an all-terrain tire. It’s so good it remains the only all-terrain tire in Continental’s portfolio. Other tire makers have no less than two or three offerings in the same category, but Continental insists on having only one, and that’s fine. It shows confidence, and the TerrainContact A/T will give you just that.

Of course, there are limits to the TerrainContact A/T’s on and off-road prowess. It’s a premium all-season all-terrain tire, and the word “premium” should ring a bell. In addition, the TerrainContact A/T has the DNA of Continental’s TerrainContact H/T, an all-season truck tire for year-round highway driving, so the premium ride quality is a given.

But the Continental TerrainContact A/T is like a fish out of water in extreme off-roading environments where deep mud and large rocks are plentiful. Although it’s an able companion in mild winter driving, it also suffers in deep snow, but that’s about it. Everything about the Continental TerrainContact A/T is a rousing two thumbs up, and this review will look deep into the tire’s many strengths and few weaknesses.

What are the features of Continental TerrainContact A/T?

Continental wanted to hit the bullseye the first time around, so it spent three years and over two million miles of testing to perfect its all-terrain formula. The result is a proprietary tread compound infused with +Silane technology to offer superb traction over wet or slippery surfaces. The open tread patterns benefit from the brand’s TractionPlus technology with its array of bigger and more stable tread blocks, enabling the tire to grip with tenacity whether on or off-road.

But the Continental TerrainContact A/T is like a brute in a suit, so it also offers ComfortRide technology, and you can see it in the tire’s distinctive tread pattern that cancels out road noise for a smoother and quieter ride. The treads have plenty of traction grooves and full-depth sipes that offer better grip on snow, ice, or extremely wet highways.

Befitting an all-terrain tire, the TerrainContact A/T is M+S (Mud and Snow) rated, but it does not support the 3PMSF symbol for severe snow duty. Continental has the VikingContact 7 if you need an SUV or light truck winter tire during the winter season.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

We have yet to try the TerrainContact H/T, but the A/T variant pretty much feels like a highway tire on smooth and paved highways. The tire offers tons of grip on dry surfaces, and it would take a silly lead-foot and ham-fisted maneuver to unsettle the Contis over asphalt.

In terms of handling or high-speed stability, highway tires are your best bet. But then again, what’s the point in jostling a truck or SUV around corners, anyway? Unless we’re talking about a high-performance Mercedes-AMG or BMW M SUV (which won’t work on A/T tires, regardless), we still think the Continental TerrainContact A/T is a worthy upgrade.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Hard rain and puddle-riddled highways are no match to the Continental TerrainContact A/T’s on-road prowess. The silica-infused tread compound remains pliable in wet or icy weather, ensuring steady traction in overly damp or slippery terrain. And with those full-depth sipes and many traction grooves, few all-terrain tires come close to the TerrainContact A/T’s genuine all-weather, all-season capabilities.

How is it over snow?

Again, the Continental TerrainContact A/T does not have a 3PMSF (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) symbol, so it’s not applicable for extreme off-roading, including deep snow. But with a standard M+S rating, it performs admirably over moderate snow or mud, and it won’t back down from slick, wet grasslands or sandy terrain, either.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Yes! The Continental TerrainContact A/T gets high marks in on-road comfort and refinement. It delivers best-in-class ride silence at low to medium speeds, too. We don’t know how Continental managed to make it as comfy as it is despite its rugged tread design, but that’s the magic behind hybrid tires that offer the best of both worlds.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Continental TerrainContact A/T transitions effortlessly from the tarmac to less-traveled roads. Dirt, grass, soil, gravel, you name it. Still, there’s a chink in its armor: Traction degrades when traversing overly thick and deep mud or highly rocky terrain, so better keep this in mind if your rig is a hardcore off-roading machine.

Is the Continental TerrainContact A/T ideal for sporty driving?

The Continental TerrainContact A/T is not a sport-oriented or performance tire. But then again, we like how it delivers accurate steering feel and steady handling at moderate speeds. Wet and dry braking is also a strong point with Continental’s TractionPlus+ technology.

Continental TerrainContact A/T Warranty

The Continental TerrainContact A/T has a 6-year/60,000-mile tread life warranty. It also comes with a one-year or first 2/32-inch road hazard warranty and a 60-day customer satisfaction guarantee.

Continental TerrainContact A/T Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Yes! The Continental TerrainContact A/T is one of the best all-terrain tires in the market and is worth every penny. With prices starting at around $160, other choices are available for less cash. However, most cheap A/T tires suffer considerably from a stiff and noisy ride, something to think about if you’re not a frequent off-roader.

Should I buy the Continental TerrainContact A/T?

Why not? Unless you’re a serious off-roader, the Continental TerrainContact A/T is hard to beat in the all-terrain segment. It delivers on the promise of all-terrain toughness and traction with the comfort and serenity of a highway tire. It’s the kind of tire that adapts to your many wilderness adventures without penalizing you with a loud and bouncy ride on the way home.

What vehicles will the Continental TerrainContact A/T fit?

The Continental TerrainContact A/T will fit domestic or import trucks and SUVs. It’s an excellent upgrade for many Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, and GMC trucks, and it’s hard to go wrong with this tire if you have a Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, or Isuzu off-roader.