FORT MILL, S.C. (Sept. 23, 2016) — Continental Tires the Americas' newest all-terrain light truck lines — the Continental TerrainContact A/T and General Grabber X3 — are now available in dealers' showrooms throughout North America.
The debut of the two tires marks Continental's entry into the all-terrain segment with a Continental-branded product and the expansion of Grabber product line into the mud-terrain segment, Conti said.
The company teased the products at its Gold Program dealer business meeting in April and gave dealers a hands-on preview in July.
According to Conti, the TerrainContact tires incorporate the tire maker's “TractionPlus” technology, which helps to provide durable performance through dirt and gravel while maintaining a quiet, comfortable ride on pavement. TractionPlus features an open pattern and large stable blocks, while the patented +Saline helps to provide traction in wet conditions.
“This tire is the perfect balance of on- and off-road performance for light truck and SUV owners,” Travis Roffler, director of marketing for Continental Tire said.
“While this is a new segment for Continental Tire, we are confident that the hours and miles we've invested in testing this tire will pay off. Whether dry, wet, pavement, dirt, gravel, or grass, we believe consumers will be extremely happy with the off-road durability and traction while also experiencing a quiet, comfortable ride on-road.”
The TerrainContact A/T also features traction grooves that provide gripping teeth inside the groove to lock in snow for improved grip, while the full-depth sipes also help with traction on snow and ice.
Continental also notes that new tires also are designed for extended tread life with a flat contour shape and strong tread shoulders.
The TerrainContact A/T is available in 20 sizes in 16- to 22-inch wheel diameters with a 245 to 285 millimeter widths and 45 to 75 series. Additionally, there will be 15 LT metric sizes, ranging from 16- to 20-inch wheel diameter with a 235-315 width and 60-80 series.
The tires also are included under Continental Tires Total Confidence Plan, meaning the TerrainContact A/T has a 60-day customer satisfaction trial and road hazard coverage for up to 12 months or first 2/32-inches, as well as a 72-month manufacturer's limited warranty program. A 60,000-mile limited mileage warranty and three-year flat tire roadside assistance also is included in the plan.
The General Grabber X3 is so named because it takes extreme terrain to the power of three, offering “extreme” performance in mud with an optimal void and self-cleaning pattern, in dirt with enhanced grip and stability and on rock surfaces with adhesion and cut/chip resistance.
Mr. Roffler said Conti the X3 represents more than three years of development, 16 tread patterns, 1,000-plus tires built and tested over 2 million miles in a variety of extreme conditions, including oer 500 hours of off-road testing.
The X3 features a high-void tread-pattern design, evacuation channels and alternating shoulder scoops for mud traction; block chamfers, traction notches and stone bumpers for dirt performance; and multi-angle gripping edges, deflection ribs, and sidewall protection lugs for grip on rock surfaces.
The tires also are built with Duragen three-ply construction, a robust compound and ultra-high strength steel belts.
The X3 will offer 42 SKUs, including 17 with the Grabber line's signature smooth red sidewall lettering. The lineup includes 13 flotation sizes in 31- to 37-inch outside diameters in rim diameters from 15 to 20 inches. There also are 16 LT metric sizes from 255 to 315 millimeter widths in 16- to 20-inch rim diameters.
For additional information, visit GeneralTire.com.