The Continentals are Junk: Gotta Go. 3 flats 3,000 miles

[Steve Urquell]

This flat sucks. And I mean flat #2 in 3,000 miles. First one was ~500 miles first thing in the morning with the wife calling me at 0600, I changed it and I looked at the hole in it. Looked like a 1/4" piece of pipe went in and out of it. It was fixed at my dealership at no charge. I came home after changing the flat and found a piece of bent .22LR brass on my concrete garage aloha.

That is weird and I kinda thought that could have happened but I've never had that happen and I've had .22 brass in the driveway for 23 years. Move on--freak occurrence but I have never punctured a tire with a piece of brass. Strange.

OK. This morning wife calls me. I have a flat, at the gym, L front. I set up to change it and go take a look, pump it up with my Ryobi inflator and find the hole. Looks like an in/out from a nail but no nail present. Right in the tread blocks so thick rubber, right?

I decide to plug it and put the rasp in the hole--it's like a lawnmower tire--no resistance at all. If you've ever plugged a tire you know they are tough as heck, especially right in the thickest part of the tread. This one had nothing. I put a plug in it and I am prepping for the usual resistance and ram it all the way into the tire flush with the tread.

Well...I didn't like the thought of all the plug swinging around in the tire--especially with no resistance and possibly pulling itself out so I got another plug and pushed the first one into the tire with the install tool. I have some really thick truck plugs. Put rubber cement on it and gently push it in. This tire must be made of toilet paper it goes in so easy.

Get it finished and it holds air. Wife is upset because of 2 flats in 3,000 miles. I was a mechanic for 20 years, we have lived 1.5 miles down a dirt road for 23 years so I have had my battles with tires. I have had 1 set of tires that were this soft and I cut one thru the tread the first week I had them and got rid of them.

My road is in the best shape it has ever been out here--county put down SB2 in all the rough spots so rock cut tires have reduced to nil lately. I just can't see me dealing with the Contis if they are this soft. Sorry for the long rant--I'm just frustrated right now at the thought of replacing all the tires with this few miles on them.

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[MinntoMich]

Good to know. What do you plan on replacing them with?
I had a new Taurus and the blocks of tread were coming apart/off at less than 20,000 miles. Dealership said they could prorate me on the same tire. Didn't want the same tire so I went elsewhere and paid full. Don't remember if they were Continentals or not.

I don't know what weather hazards your part of the country has but I have to put in a good word for Michelin Cross Climate 2's. I know its available in the 225/65R17 size. Had them put on a 2012 Impala fleet car last spring. Impressed me over the winter here in the north and they channel water very well. Bit spendy though.

 

[BluegrassNbass]

Cheap 4 ply tires....it's to be expected. I buy 75-100$ swimbaits for bass and you have to change out the hooks to quality ones. To me same mentality. You got the body and cheap tires or hooks. Go put what you want on them.

 

[Steve Urquell]

Looking at these Nittos. Load range 106 vs 102 so they should be tougher. Also 75,000 treadwear. I've never run Nitto before but like the specs. Thoughts?
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nitto-nt421q/p/15259

 

[fozcycle]

You got Conti’s with your Maverick? Mine came with Michelins, same as on my wife’s Bronco Sport.

 

[Steve Urquell]

You got Conti’s with your Maverick? Mine came with Michelins, same as on my wife’s Bronco Sport.

Unfortunately. Wish I had the Michelins. Ugh

 

[jsus]

You got Conti’s with your Maverick? Mine came with Michelins, same as on my wife’s Bronco Sport.

17s are ContiProContact, 18s are Michelin Primacy (no FX4 etc). Same on Maverick, Bronco Sport, Escape.

 

[MinntoMich]

Looking at these Nittos. Load range 106 vs 102 so they should be tougher. Also 75,000 treadwear. I've never run Nitto before but like the specs. Thoughts?
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nitto-nt421q/p/15259

They are an off brand for Toyo so that says something good I suppose. The pattern reminds me of an all-weather Goodyear Assurance.

Nitto's site doesn't show more than several tires for any one application but what they do show looks unique IMO.
If you decide to go that route you'll have to post a review letting us know what you think.

 

[Montana]

Yea the Continentals are junk. The Scorpions are not bad as far as stock tires on a "budget" vehicle go.

TBH, I don't expect any tires from the factory to be good. Even the Mavericks that come with the Wildpeaks are getting a nerfed version of the AT3W's that are actually closer to the Trails but not even sold to consumers anywhere other than on the Mavericks.

Plus, I live in Montana so stock tires gotta go ASAP. Even on the Escape I had 2 months worth of decent weather left and I replaced those stock 225/55R19 with the Wildpeak Trails (which I would not run during winter up here again). They were Bridgestone Ecopia's or something? Terrible tire and the only reason these types of tires (The Ecopia's and Continentals) get used is because of their low rolling resistance and cost FORD gets for them when buying in bulk.

And I second the notion for the Michelin Cross Climate 2's being by far the best tire outside of anything A/T or M/T related. I'm going to give them a shot this winter in 235/65R17 as dedicated snows.

But the real question is what are your driving conditions like and what is your budget?

 

[lajlmt]

This flat sucks. And I mean flat #2 in 3,000 miles. First one was ~500 miles first thing in the morning with the wife calling me at 0600, I changed it and I looked at the hole in it. Looked like a 1/4" piece of pipe went in and out of it. It was fixed at my dealership at no charge. I came home after changing the flat and found a piece of bent .22LR brass on my concrete garage aloha.

That is weird and I kinda thought that could have happened but I've never had that happen and I've had .22 brass in the driveway for 23 years. Move on--freak occurrence but I have never punctured a tire with a piece of brass. Strange.

OK. This morning wife calls me. I have a flat, at the gym, L front. I set up to change it and go take a look, pump it up with my Ryobi inflator and find the hole. Looks like an in/out from a nail but no nail present. Right in the tread blocks so thick rubber, right?

I decide to plug it and put the rasp in the hole--it's like a lawnmower tire--no resistance at all. If you've ever plugged a tire you know they are tough as heck, especially right in the thickest part of the tread. This one had nothing. I put a plug in it and I am prepping for the usual resistance and ram it all the way into the tire flush with the tread.

Well...I didn't like the thought of all the plug swinging around in the tire--especially with no resistance and possibly pulling itself out so I got another plug and pushed the first one into the tire with the install tool. I have some really thick truck plugs. Put rubber cement on it and gently push it in. This tire must be made of toilet paper it goes in so easy.

Get it finished and it holds air. Wife is upset because of 2 flats in 3,000 miles. I was a mechanic for 20 years, we have lived 1.5 miles down a dirt road for 23 years so I have had my battles with tires. I have had 1 set of tires that were this soft and I cut one thru the tread the first week I had them and got rid of them.

My road is in the best shape it has ever been out here--county put down SB2 in all the rough spots so rock cut tires have reduced to nil lately. I just can't see me dealing with the Contis if they are this soft. Sorry for the long rant--I'm just frustrated right now at the thought of replacing all the tires with this few miles on them.

My ‘97 Ranger had flats big time, because we were in a new neighborhood with lots of construction

 

[Zotman]

Just an objective difference of opinion here: Continental makes a decent line of bicycle tires...

 

[Noofis12]

Yea the Continentals are junk. The Scorpions are not bad as far as stock tires on a "budget" vehicle go.

TBH, I don't expect any tires from the factory to be good. Even the Mavericks that come with the Wildpeaks are getting a nerfed version of the AT3W's that are actually closer to the Trails but not even sold to consumers anywhere other than on the Mavericks.

Plus, I live in Montana so stock tires gotta go ASAP. Even on the Escape I had 2 months worth of decent weather left and I replaced those stock 225/55R19 with the Wildpeak Trails (which I would not run during winter up here again). They were Bridgestone Ecopia's or something? Terrible tire and the only reason these types of tires (The Ecopia's and Continentals) get used is because of their low rolling resistance and cost FORD gets for them when buying in bulk.

And I second the notion for the Michelin Cross Climate 2's being by far the best tire outside of anything A/T or M/T related. I'm going to give them a shot this winter in 235/65R17 as dedicated snows.

But the real question is what are your driving conditions like and what is your budget?

Montana, Are you saying you would not run the Wildpeak Trails in the winter? I was planning on swapping out my stocks for the Wildpeak Trails when my truck gets here. I live in Minnesota and ordered a hybrid so tire choice is going to be important for me.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Replaced the Conti's on our Jeep with Wildpeaks as soon as we could afford it.

Will replace the Scorpions on my Mav (when it comes in) with Wildpeaks as soon as we can afford it.

We run Wildpeaks in the winter up here, BUT, we drive very little and stay off the roads during the worst of it as we are retired and have no need to be out in it. If still driving 25K a year for work and banging the interstate every day I would run dedicated winters on steelies.

I have found the Wildpeaks to be incredible against hydroplaning which we can find ourselves in more than real heavy snow conditions. All about one's driving habits I guess.

 

[athertonbt]

My brother in law had stock Continentals on his old Ford Fusion and had the same issue. He works for a plant that manufactures tire components…Continental literally uses material that Michelin, Goodyear, and BF Goodrich turn down. Not surprising at the price point, but that’s little comfort when you’re on the side of the road.

 

[1929]

Just an objective difference of opinion here: Continental makes a decent line of bicycle tires...

Continentals equipped on Maverick have good ratings overall with fair ratings in snow when reviewed on tire seller sites. Poor reviews overall from Maverick owners from what I've read here on the forum.

One thing to note is modern tread designs tend to pick up road debris. Results in flats.

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