Last year, Continental Tires invited us to its hometown in Hannover for the introduction and first-hand experience of the made-for-APAC MaxContact MC7 tyres. This year, the German tyre brand flew us to Hannover once again to experience yet another newly developed product as part of a media brand experience - the UltraContact UX7 SUV-specific tyres.
Being the only points of contact with the road, tyres are important for the safety, comfort and performance of vehicles. As a driver, you probably know that there are many types of tyres - some are comfort oriented, some are made for high-performance sports cars, and some for specific use such as off-roading. But did you know that there are SUV-specific tyres?
The unique demands an SUV has for tyres
The popularity of SUVs is undeniable - according to Continental's research, there has been an exponential growth of SUVs in the Asia Pacific region. The sales of SUVs, along with MPVs, are predicted to continue to grow substantially. There's only going to be more SUVs on the road, and it makes sense to focus on products that cater to the segment.
Due to the size and shape of SUVs, they tend to be heavier than other body styles of cars. The raised ride height of SUVs also results in a higher centre of gravity. All these factors result in higher loads on the tyres, along with the demand for greater stability and performance in order to ensure a safe and comfortable drive. The rise of EVs also means that tyres need to be even quieter than before, or road noise will be very noticeable due to the silence of the drive.
As a result, SUVs require stronger, more robust tyres with enhanced stability and traction to handle the harsh demands, all without generating excessive noise. With all these requirements in mind, Continental Tires developed the UltraContact UX7.
X for XTRA - X-Force Macroblocks, Tailor-made Fit, Robust 360 Construction and Adaptive Diamond Compound
The 'X' in the new UltraContact UX7 also signifies its defining features, namely XTRA Confidence, X-Force Macroblocks, XTRA Durability and XTRA Quiet.
Continental has adapted the tyres for a wide range of SUVs, depending on their weight, size and type of drive, in order to achieve a 'Tailor-made Fit' for absolute confidence. While the UX7 has been crafted specially to meet the demands of SUVs, the larger and wider sizes are constructed with performance in mind, as the SUVs that uses such tyres tend to be of the performance type.
The X-Force Macroblocks are designed to adapt to the road's surface for stability, while the Aqua Channels built into the tyre accelerate water evacuation for better grip and braking in wet conditions. These features has resulted in shorter braking distances on wet and dry roads, along with exceptional grip and handling in corners.
For extra durability, the UX7 features the Robust360 Construction with strong belt and carcass design, along with the Adaptive Diamond Compound which improves wear performance and wet grip. The precision-cut tread design along with Noise Breaker 3.0 (that is also featured on the MC7) help to achieve low noise levels for maximum comfort.
Put to the test: Continental UltraContact UX7
To get a first-hand experience of the hard work that Continental's team had put into the UX7, we were invited to the ADAC Driving Safety Centre Hannover-Messe. This facility features various courses and tracks for driver training and automotive testing purposes.
We got to try out two driving activities with the new UltraContact UX7, and the first one was Wet Braking. In this controlled test, we were driving Audi Q3 Sportbacks and got to compare the UX7 against its predecessor, the UltraContact UC6.
The cars were equipped with professional measuring equipment that uses GPS speed and other telemetries to ensure an accurate result. We were to accelerate to a speed of 85km/h and to slam hard on the brakes at an indicated spot on the wet tarmac. The results were clear over repeated tests - the UC6 managed an average stopping distance of around 30m, meanwhile the UX7 manages around 25m, a 5m improvement! This confirmed the effectiveness of the Aqua Channels and Adaptive Diamond Compound.
We also got to experience a Wet Cornering segment, where we drove the new Volkswagen Tiguan, once again, equipped with UX7 tyres on a wet corner. We were instructed to take the corner at a lower speed of around 35km/h initially, and to speed up gradually on the following passes. Even at 60km/h, the car felt stable and safe - even when the limits of grip was passed, the breakaway characteristic of the tyres was gradual and predictable.
An excellent choice for your SUV
Having experienced the performance of the new UltraContact UX7, I can confidently say that they are an excellent choice for your SUV. The impressive wet performance of the tyres is reassuring, especially with the frequent thunderstorms that we get in Singapore.
The Continental UltraContact UX7 is available for purchase now and is available in a wide range of sizes from 15-inch to 22-inch. It is suitable for crossovers, mid-sized SUVs and premium SUVs.
