Continental Tire the Americas LLC is pushing its TerrainContact line further off-road while maintaining the on-road refinement that helped establish the original TerrainContact A/T.

During a product presentation in Charlotte, N.C., Continental provided a closer look at the TerrainContact A/T2 and outlined the customer feedback, product-development goals and fitment strategy behind the next-generation all-terrain tire.

MTD first reported the TerrainContact A/T2’s debut on July 2. Continental initially described the product as a premium, all-season all-terrain tire for crossover, SUV and light-truck drivers and highlighted its more aggressive appearance, improved wet braking, enhanced snow performance and 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) certification.

The Charlotte presentation expanded on that announcement, including how Continental intends to position the tire alongside the original TerrainContact A/T rather than replacing the earlier product altogether.

Bjoern Glaeser, head of product planning for Continental, called the A/T2 “the most aggressive, furthest-leaning, off-road-capable tire” Continental has offered under its flagship brand.

Despite that increased capability, the product was not designed solely for dedicated off-road enthusiasts.

Continental is targeting premium all-terrain customers who enjoy outdoor activities, tow boats, travel off-road on weekends or simply want to give their vehicles a more aggressive appearance. Most of those consumers, however, continue to spend the majority of their time on paved roads.

“They do not want to give up on-road manners,” said Glaeser. “They do not want to give up quiet ride.”

That requirement shaped Continental’s effort to create what Glaeser described as the “best balanced solution” for the premium all-terrain customer — combining a comfortable daily commute with the ability to operate on gravel, mud, snow and other difficult surfaces.

Customer feedback drives snow certification

One of the most significant changes from the TerrainContact A/T is the addition of 3PMS certification.

Glaeser said the certification responds directly to feedback Continental received from customers who liked the original tire but wanted it to carry the severe-snow designation.

Continental added more sipes and biting edges to help the A/T2 achieve the certification. Its redesigned tread also includes larger blocks, a bolder shoulder, greater tread depth, zigzag grooves and additional rubber in the shoulder and tread areas.

The tread’s water-channeling features were designed to improve wet performance, while the zigzag grooves and traction teeth create more contact points on snow, gravel, mud and other loose surfaces.

Continental says the TerrainContact A/T2 improves wet braking by 3% and snow performance by 10% compared with the original TerrainContact A/T. The company says the new tire maintains the predecessor’s dry performance and interior noise level.

The A/T2 also carries a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty, an increase from the original TerrainContact A/T’s 60,000-mile warranty.

The tire is equipped with Continental’s TractionPlus+ Technology, which is designed to combine traction, durability, wet-road grip and reduced road noise. Continental also lists high-density siping, silane additives, advanced tread compounds, optimized void ratios and a high-strength belt construction among the tire’s features.

Original TerrainContact A/T remains in lineup

Continental will continue to offer the original TerrainContact A/T in 11 sizes, particularly for OE and adventure-oriented applications.

Glaeser pointed to trail-package vehicles from Honda and other automakers as examples of applications for which the original product remains important. He also referenced the Kia Telluride and GMC Acadia during the presentation.

According to Glaeser, Honda selected the TerrainContact A/T because it delivered off-road capability without sacrificing on-road manners — the same balance Continental is emphasizing with the A/T2.

TerrainContact A/T2 details

The TerrainContact A/T2 lineup includes 28 sizes. Together, the 28 A/T2 sizes and 11 continuing A/T sizes give Continental 39 all-terrain fitments and cover more than 90% of what the company defines as the premium all-terrain market.

A/T2 fitments extend from smaller pickups and SUVs to large SUVs, heavy-duty trucks and adventure- or trail-package vehicles. Glaeser also identified electric pickups, including Rivian and GMC Hummer EV models, as potential applications.

The tire is available with a black sidewall and, in selected fitments, outline white lettering. Some versions allow the tire to be mounted with either the black or white-lettered side facing outward, depending on the customer’s styling preference.

Glaeser also positioned Continental’s Total Confidence Plan as an additional dealer selling point. In addition to the tire’s mileage warranty, the plan includes a 60-day customer-satisfaction trial, three years of roadside assistance and 12 months of road-hazard coverage. Continental also lists emergency trip-interruption coverage as part of the plan.

The Charlotte gathering differed from a conventional tire launch because it did not include a vehicle-driving component. Brian Beierwaltes, head of marketing for Continental’s U.S. passenger and light-truck tire business, said the event was instead designed to cultivate relationships with customers and marketing partners.

The program also incorporated Continental’s 16-year partnership with Major League Soccer and activities surrounding the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte.

The event’s product presentation nevertheless made Continental’s central objective clear: Make the TerrainContact A/T2 look and perform more like a serious all-terrain tire without taking away the quiet, comfortable road characteristics that its target customer uses every day.