UVALDE, Texas—Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. has launched the Extreme Contact DWS06 ultra-high-performance tire as the successor to the five-year-old Extreme Contact DWS.
The Fort Mill, S.C.-based tire maker is calling its latest performance model the “highest-performing” all-season tire in its portfolio.
The tire will be available beginning in May in 87 sizes covering 16- to 22-inch rim diameters in W and Y speed ratings and aspect ratios ranging from 25 to 55, Conti officials said during the tire's unveiling in March at the company's sprawling Uvalde proving grounds west of San Antonio.
The tire will launch in two phases: 52 sizes initially and 35 more sizes in September. Conti said it will continue to produce and sell the original DWS in the sizes that will be replaced in Phase II through that time period.
The Extreme Contact DWS06 features Conti's “SportPlus Technology,” an umbrella term for a package of performance improvements that includes macro block shoulders for improved steering and control; chamfered edges for grip; and uniform contact patch for longer tread wear.
Traction Grooves help improve the tire's snow performance through increased pattern edges, and X-Sipes improve braking and cornering on wet and snowy roads, according to the company.
The new tire is being built in various Conti plants around the world, spokespeople said.
The tire is targeted at owners of sports cars, luxury sports cars and luxury sport crossovers, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Cor-vette, Nissan Z cars, Porsche Boxters, Scion TC, and various Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus and Mercedes models.
Engineers improved all the features except rolling resistance, which remained the same, on the DWS06 vs. the DWS, Conti said.
“We've maintained excellent snow traction while making improvements in wet traction, dry handling and tread life,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for Conti.
The tire also features Quick View Indicators in the tread to help drivers check the alignment and track tread wear. Letters in the tread—a “D” for dry, “W” for wet and “S” for snow—wear away as the performance in each category is reduced.
The alignment indicators in the tread visually inform the driver to check the wheel alignment at 3,000 to 5,000 miles or before the first tire rotation. When the small rectangular symbols on the inner and outer tread match, the tires are wearing evenly and have good alignment, according to Conti.
Company officials noted that the “06” doesn't necessarily signify anything other than to differentiate the new product from its predecessor. Engineers kept the Extreme Contact DWS asymmetric family look but added distinctive elements in the center tread and smooth sidewall.
Conti's offering a 50,000-mile limited mileage warranty on the new tire.
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