Second best: Continental Max Contact 6 MC6 (2017)

When everything counts. This is the tagline whereby Continental’s Max Contact 6 is based on. This is a clever attempt to signify its wet and dry braking performance 🙂 Let’s look into the performance in detail and see whether MC6 can handle the competition.

Is MC6 a UHP TYRE?

Yes. From Continental’s website, Max Contact 6 (MC6) is classified as a ultra high performance tire segment

1. Wet braking.

Wet braking has somewhat been the main focus for the touring tires especially among the premium competitors. In the joint press test done by Zhihu and Auto Bild which included most of the current market leaders in the touring car segment, MC6 came out 3rd losing to both Michelin Primacy 4 & PS4. This came as no surprise as Michelin is current technology leader in wet braking. However having said that, MC6 still maintain a good lead over the rest of the chasing pack.

2. Wet handling

Handling of tires during wet condition has always been a critical element to avoid trouble. If the tire response quickly to driver’s feedback, it enables a good coherence between the tire and the driver. MC6 came out 2nd in the joint test, loosing to arch enemy Primacy 4.

3. Aquaplaning

Aquaplaning seems to be the weak point of MC6 as it came in 2nd last. The inability to disperse water quickly to avoid tire sliping conditions does not goes well with MC6.

4. Dry braking

While placing second fiddle to Primacy 4 for most of the other criteria, MC6 finally come in joint first in the dry braking test together with Primacy 4. The tag line when everything counts certainly fit in dry conditions.

5. Rolling resistance

MC6 has quite a respectable rolling resistance results, coming in 3rd just behind primacy 4 and Landsail LS588.

6. Wear

With a UTQG of 400, the MC6 certainly out numbered the rest of the competition. The value is much higher the Primacy 4 (340) & Bridgestone RE 003 (220). I would expect MC6 to show a strong mileage performance compare to the rest of the pack.

7. Cost

Being behind Primacy 4 in almost most of the performance, the sliver lining of MC6 appear in the cost. As of writing, a 225/45 R17 cost RM 352 compare to RM429 of Primacy 4. This is a whopping 21% less than the Michelin ! A lower price range while having the 2nd best performance tire certainly sound like a good compromise.

Name	Tire Size	Price(RM)
Continental Max Contact 6	205/45R16	355
Continental Max Contact 6	205/40R17	335
Continental Max Contact 6	215/45R17	388
Continental Max Contact 6	205/45R17	360
Continental Max Contact 6	225/45R17	450
Continental Max Contact 6	225/50R17	515
Continental Max Contact 6	215/50R17	460
Continental Max Contact 6	245/45R17	651
Continental Max Contact 6	225/55R17	515
Continental Max Contact 6	215/55R17	480
Continental Max Contact 6	215/45R18	440
Continental Max Contact 6	235/40R18	714
Continental Max Contact 6	245/40R18	774
Continental Max Contact 6	225/40R18	618
Continental Max Contact 6	255/35R18	837
Continental Max Contact 6	235/50R18	608
Continental Max Contact 6	235/45R18	687
Continental Max Contact 6	225/45R18	595
Continental Max Contact 6	235/55R18	605
Continental Max Contact 6	235/35R19	814
Continental Max Contact 6	235/45R17	573
Continental Max Contact 6	245/40R17	662
Continental Max Contact 6	225/50R18	600
Continental Max Contact 6	245/45R18	722
Continental Max Contact 6	275/40R18	843
Continental Max Contact 6	255/40R18	777
Continental Max Contact 6	265/35R18	885
Continental Max Contact 6	245/45R19	799
Continental Max Contact 6	255/40R19	866
Continental Max Contact 6	245/40R19	864
Continental Max Contact 6	225/40R19	800
Continental Max Contact 6	255/35R19	877
Continental Max Contact 6	245/40R20	925
Continental Max Contact 6	245/40R19 (RUN FLAT)	1035
Continental Max Contact 6	275/35R19 (RUN FLAT)	1149
Continental Max Contact 6	255/45R19	977
Continental Max Contact 6	275/40R19	967
Continental Max Contact 6	275/35R19	1052
Continental Max Contact 6	245/35R19	1068
Continental Max Contact 6	275/30R19	1116
Continental Max Contact 6	265/40R20	1039
Continental Max Contact 6	285/35R20	885
Continental Max Contact 6	275/35R20	1111
Continental Max Contact 6	255/35R20	1111
Continental Max Contact 6	285/35R20	818
Continental Max Contact 6	275/35R20	1068
Continental Max Contact 6	255/35R20	1048

8. Is Continental MC6 noisy?

MC6 is the most comfortable tire in the test while coming 2nd in terms of interior noise. Hence noise is not an issue for MC6.

Summary

Overall MC6 is a very good solid tire with good attributes in wet and dry braking. It is certainly best of the rest (Primacy 4 🙂 ) while having a much lower cost compare to Michelin to compensate for it.

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