Continental ProContact RX T1 vs Continental PureContact LS: The question which always arises when a new vehicle owner has to change his OE tires for the very first time, does he stick to the OE tires which have served him so far or he should change to a replacement market tire? We have covered this using Michelin’s OE spec tire Michelin Primacy MXM4 vs its replacement counterpart Michelin CrossClimate 2 and saw great benefits using the replacement market product.
In this article, we would like to do the same but using a different tire manufacturer in the form of Continental tires. With the help of Tire Rack, they pick up one of the hottest car right now “Tesla Model 3” and pitted its OE spec tire Continental ProContact RX T1 vs its replacement counterpart Continental PureContact LS, Without further ado, let’s put this 2 tires head to head and see who comes out on top !
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “Electric Vehicle Tires – Comparing Continental Original Equipment to Aftermarket” test. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental ProContact RX T1 vs Continental PureContact LS based on the relevant performance category. The OE ProContact RX T1 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. Note that for subjective comfort evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. Hence for example if tire A is graded 7 while tire B is graded 6, A is better than B by 5%.
Unlike the Michelin comparison where the CrossClimate 2 possesses the elusive 3 peak mountain logo, both tires covered here do not have it, Tire Rack will nonetheless perform snow & ice testing in this upcoming 2023 winter season as they are classified as grand touring all season. A detailed testing on snow including acceleration, braking & handling will be performed at Tire Rack’s proving ground.
The tire size of interest is 235/40R19 which is a common tire size for Volvo V60 Recharge T8 & Lexus RC. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a 2022 Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Long Range test vehicle.
Wet
The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. With regards to our comparison, PureContact LS was dominating in wet braking as it out-brake ProContact RX T1 by 15 feet (4.5 m) which is 1.5 car lengths !
With such leading performance in wet braking, PureContact LS was faster in wet handling lap times by 0.18 seconds only. While fairing worse in subjective wet handling with an overall rating of 7.10 vs 7.22 of ProContact RX T1. This to be honest is quite compelling as with more than 10% advantage in wet braking, we will definitely expect for PureContact LS to dominate in subjective wet handling. However this was not the case which could be attributed to the OE specific development done for Tesla Model 3 for ProContact RX T1. Overall, big differences were observed in wet braking with PureContact LS in the lead while both having equal wet handling performances both subjectively & objectively.
PureContact LS :
- +12.6% in wet braking
- -0.6% in wet handling (subj)
- +0.5% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
As for dry, safety is usually not an issue as the braking distance is much longer than wet. However this is the default daily usage and the tires have to perform at a very consistent level. With a much lower tread depth, ProContact RX T1 managed to out brake PureContact LS by 3.8 feet (1.2m) from a speed of 50 mph (80km/h) down to 0.
PureContact LS :
- -4.2% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
Ride comfort, noise & comfort was tested and both tires are neck in neck with no much differences in between. ProContact RX T1 has a slightly higher rating of 7.67 against the 7.46 rating of PureContact LS.
PureContact LS :
- -1.1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In terms of Snow Braking, the Continental PureContact LS stands out with a stopping distance of 60.80 feet, which is notably shorter than the Continental ProContact RX T1’s stopping distance of 77.40 feet. This difference of 16.60 feet in stopping distance showcases the superior snow braking performance of the PureContact LS, indicating a better grip and safer stopping capability on snowy surfaces.
When evaluating Snow Acceleration, from 0 to 12 Mph, the Continental PureContact LS continues to demonstrate its supremacy. It requires only 14.36 feet to reach this speed, while the ProContact RX T1 lags behind, needing 18.37 feet. The reduced acceleration distance for the PureContact LS, by a margin of 4.01 feet, implies that it has better traction and can gain speed more efficiently in snowy conditions than its counterpart.
Lastly, in the realm of Snow Handling, which is a subjective measure, the Continental PureContact LS garners a higher score of 7.08 out of 10. In comparison, the ProContact RX T1 manages a score of 6.29 out of 10. This higher score for the PureContact LS suggests that drivers or testers felt a more confident and controlled driving experience with it on snowy terrains, compared to the ProContact RX T1.
PureContact LS :
- +27.3% in Snow braking.
- +4% in Snow handling (subj).
- +27.9% in Snow acceleration.
Ice
In evaluating the Ice Braking performance between the Continental ProContact RX T1 and the Continental PureContact LS, there’s a noticeable difference in their stopping distances. The Continental PureContact LS exhibits superior performance with a stopping distance of 47.30 feet on ice. In contrast, the Continental ProContact RX T1 requires a slightly longer distance to come to a stop, registering at 50.50 feet. This difference of 3.20 feet underscores the better ice braking capability of the PureContact LS. The shorter the stopping distance on ice, the better the tire’s performance in terms of safety and grip in icy conditions. In this comparison, the Continental PureContact LS emerges as the preferable option for braking on ice.
PureContact LS :
- +6.8% in Ice Braking.
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental | ProContact RX T1 | All | 400 | A | A |
| Continental | PureContact LS | All | 700 | A | A |
Based on the data provided by Tire Rack, mileage warranty for ProContact RX T1 is 45,000 miles while PureContact LS is 70,000 miles. This is sort of reflected in the UTQG wear values as ProContact RX T1 has 400 rating in comparison with the 700 rating of PureContact LS. This is definitely attributed to the lower tread depth you get from the OE specific tire as it has to meet a much lower level of rolling resistance targets for its OE customer.
For more in depth information about UTQG, please check out this article here. We even have a free download on the latest UTQG values from the leading tire manufacturers.
Estimated Range at 100% Charge
Being an electric vehicle, the estimated range is something you are particularly fond of especially if you are driving long distance. The concept is fairly simple, the lower your tire’s rolling resistance the less energy is needed per travel distance. Instead of doing the traditional rolling resistance measurement, Tire Rack instead drove 2 identical vehicles in more or less identical conditions on a 200-mile route on the highways near Tire Rack’s South Bend headquarters.
Based on the study and some extrapolation calculation, the OE fitted ProContact RX T1 was rated to have a total mileage of 262 miles compared to the 246 miles with PureContact LS. This does not come as a surprise as the ProContact RX T1 is an OE specific tire for Tesla Model 3 and it is tailored for electric vehicle usage with a lower rolling resistance value.
Estimated Range at 100% Charge :
- 100% @ ProContact RX T1
- 94% @ PureContact LS
Price
Continental has priced its OE counterpart at a $89 dollars premium compared to its replacement counterpart. This adds up to a 38% price difference with PureContact LS as the baseline.
Tire size: 235/40R19
ProContact RX T1: $323
PureContact LS: $234
Difference: -38% more cheaper for PureContact LS.
Summary
In considering the complete performance spectrum, the PureContact LS notably stands out in wet braking, mileage, and winter results, particularly when analyzing its snow and ice performance. On the other hand, the ProContact RX T1, being an OE tire, showcases its strengths in dry braking, noise comfort, and range per charge. Both tires have their distinct advantages and trade-offs. If a driver prioritizes wet and winter performance, especially considering the critical importance of braking and traction in such conditions, the PureContact LS would be a recommended replacement choice due to its superior results in these areas. However, if one leans more towards dry conditions, comfort, and longer range per charge, then the ProContact RX T1 might be more appealing. The decision ultimately hinges on individual preferences and driving conditions.