How Continental VikingContact 7 broke the Studless market: The Continental VikingContact 7 has been a formidable player in the studless winter tire market, dominating its segment over the past seven years with its superior ice and snow performance. As Continental launches its successor, the VikingContact 8, anticipation builds around how it will continue the legacy. Before we explore the potential of the new release, let’s reflect on how the VikingContact 7 set high standards and significantly influenced the studless tire market.
Press Test Performance
Over the past seven years, the Continental VikingContact 7 has consistently impressed in various press tire tests, solidifying its reputation in the studless winter tire market. The tire has demonstrated exceptional performance across a range of conditions, securing numerous top placements.
Here’s a breakdown of its performance:
- First Place Finishes: The VikingContact 7 achieved first place in numerous significant tests, including the 2024 Vi Bilägare R17, 2024 Teknikens Värld R17, 2023 Tyre Reviews R16, 2022 Tyre Reviews R16, 2022 Test World R16, 2021 Vi Bilägare R16, 2021 Za Rulem R16, 2020 Vi Bilägare R17, 2020 Test World R16, 2020 Motor R16, 2019 Vi Bilägare R17, and 2018 Autofil R16. These victories are testament to its robust performance on ice and snow.
- Second Place Finishes: It also showed strong results by coming in second in the 2023 Autoreview R16 and the 2019 Teknikens Värld R17. These placements further confirm its reliable and high-quality performance under various winter conditions.
- Third Place Finishes: The tire secured a third place in the 2023 Vi Bilägare SUV R18, indicating competitive performance even in the highly demanding SUV category.
Despite a few lower placements, such as fourth in the 2024 Aftonbladet R16 and the 2022 Moottor R16, the tire’s track record remains predominantly outstanding.
Summary of Top Placements Over the Last 7 Years:
- First Place: 12 times
- Second Place: 2 times
- Third Place: 1 time
This record highlights the Continental VikingContact 7’s dominance and reliability as a top choice for extreme winter driving, setting high expectations for its successor, the VikingContact 8.
Ice Handling
The Continental VikingContact 7 has demonstrated exceptional dominance in ice handling over the past seven years, consistently ranking at the top in a variety of tire tests. This tire has shown its prowess particularly in the toughest winter conditions, which is crucial for driving safety and performance on icy roads.
The Continental VikingContact 7 has excelled in ice handling, consistently securing top positions across multiple tire tests over the years. It achieved first place in several high-profile tests, including the 2024 Vi Bilägare R17 and 2024 Teknikens Värld R17 among others, underscoring its superior performance.
Summary of Ice Handling Placements Over the Last 7 Years:
- First Place: 15 times
- Second Place: 2 times
- Third Place: 1 time
The key to the Continental VikingContact 7’s success lies predominantly in its superior ice handling capabilities. This is due to the tire’s advanced tread design and rubber compounds, which are optimized for extreme cold conditions. The tread ensures excellent grip by maintaining flexibility in low temperatures, while the sipe patterns provide biting edges that lock into icy surfaces, offering enhanced traction and control. This combination makes the VikingContact 7 a leader in its class, providing drivers with confidence and safety during winter’s most challenging driving conditions.
Conclusion
The Continental VikingContact 7 has established itself as a dominant force in the studless winter tire market, with an impressive record of wins in press tests. Its consistent top-tier performances across various evaluations highlight a level of dominance that may be unrivaled in the market for some time. As we eagerly await the release of its successor, the Continental VikingContact 8, there is great anticipation to see if it can continue or even surpass the remarkable legacy of its predecessor.
Dr Edwin Pang