Review: Continental IceContact XTRM Winter Tire

TL;DR

The Continental IceContact XTRM is a German-made winter tire developed with Groupe Touchette for Canadian roads. It comes pre-studded or studless in 91 sizes, with a T speed rating and a six-year/128,000 km warranty. The studded version is the pick for ice, while the studless version suits drivers who mostly see packed snow and slush. Against the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, VikingContact 7, and Michelin X-Ice Snow, it stands out for its size range and its choice of studs, though we haven't tested it head to head.

Key Takeaways

• The XTRM is available studded or studless in every one of its 91 sizes, covering rim diameters from 15 to 22 inches.
• All sizes carry a T speed rating for use up to 190 km/h, backed by a six-year/128,000 km warranty and three years of roadside assistance.
• In our launch testing, studs shortened ice stopping distances and made understeer recovery easier. On packed snow the difference was small.
• The closest studded rival is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10. The main studless rivals are the Continental VikingContact 7 and the Michelin X-Ice Snow.
• We haven't tested the XTRM head to head against its rivals, so check independent comparison tests before you buy.
• Braking claims from tire manufacturers, including Touchette's 3-5% improvement, are not something we could verify.

A Winter Tire Built for the Canadian Winter Tire Market

Winter tires are big business in Canada. Around 60% of the 22-24 million tires sold here each year are winters, compared with only about 5% in the USA. Even outside Quebec, where their use is mandatory, 63% of drivers use winter tires, according to a 2022 study by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.

The country also has some unique winter conditions, with prolonged periods of deep cold and large areas where it's the norm to drive on ice, or on slush from salted snowmelt. Canadian tire distributor Groupe Touchette, which supplies everything from independent repair shops to OEM dealerships, worked with Continental to develop the IceContact XTRM for the Canadian winter tire market. Many tire manufacturers adapt designs made for other countries, but the German-made IceContact XTRM was aimed at Canadian weather conditions from the start.

Quick definition: a studded winter tire has small metal studs that bite into ice, while a studless tire relies on soft rubber and thousands of tiny slits to grip. Pre-studded means the studs are installed at the factory rather than added later by a shop.

Design of the Conti's IceContact XTRM: Studded and Studless Versions

Unusually for a winter tire, the XTRM is available in both pre-studded and studless versions. They share the same soft rubber compound to handle extremely low temperatures and a V-shape tread pattern with more open lateral grooves than on some other winter tires, to account for Canada's slushy roads. The connected center rib and siping are designed to improve steering response and road feel. Pockets and ridges in the sidewall aim to provide traction in deep snow.

Quick definition: siping means the small, wavy slits cut into the tread blocks. Each one creates an extra biting edge on snow and ice.

Where fitted, the XTRM's 130 studs use aluminum stud bodies and a TriStar head design. They're located to maximize grip but minimize tire-road noise. The studs are chemically coated before insertion and then subject to an additional curing process that forms a chemical bond between the stud body and the surrounding tire compound.

Conti believes that as a result, stud retention should be up to four times higher than without the coating, providing up to 5% more grip on ice.

Here's more on studded winters and whether they're legal in Canada.

Availability, Sizing, and Speed Rating

The tire was launched for the winter of 2020-21 and is available through Touchette's retailers nationwide. North American sizing isn't always a given for winter tires that come to Canada from Europe or elsewhere, but the IceContact XTRM was designed from the start to cater for trucks and large SUVs as well as smaller vehicles.

There are now 91 different sizes on sale, up from 46 at launch, each with pre-studded and studless variants and encompassing rim diameters from 15 to 22 inches. Continental says the original range covered about 85% of the Canadian winter tire market for those rim diameters. All sizes carry a T speed rating.

Quick definition: a speed rating is a letter that shows the top speed a tire is certified to sustain. A T speed rating means up to 190 km/h, which is more than enough for winter driving.

IceContact XTRM Competitors

Having both pre-studded and studless versions broadens the XTRM's competitive set. For a studded rival, think Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10. For non-studded competitors, there's the Nokian R5, the Michelin X-Ice family, or several Pirelli Sottozero products. Continental also has other winter tires of its own, so we've compared the three rivals shoppers ask about most.

Continental IceContact XTRM vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10

The Hakkapeliitta 10 is the closest like-for-like rival, since it's also a premium studded tire built for severe ice. Nokian's Double Stud design places center studs optimized for braking and acceleration, with shoulder studs added for cornering grip. Its Eco Stud 10 construction uses soft rubber cushions to reduce road wear and noise, and Nokian claims an 8% improvement in acceleration grip over its predecessor. Like the XTRM, the Hakkapeliitta 10 is also sold studless.

The XTRM answers with 130 coated studs and a very wide size range. Both tires pair a directional or V-shaped tread with heavy siping, so the real differences come down to stud design, noise, and which sizes your vehicle needs.

We can't call a winner. Independent European tests usually feature Continental's European studded tire, the IceContact 3, rather than the Canada-specific XTRM, so an IceContact 3 result shouldn't be read as an XTRM result. Those tests have gone both ways. One aggregated comparison scored the Hakkapeliitta 10 about 10% higher on average than the IceContact 3, while Norway's 2019 NAF test put the IceContact 3 FlexStud first and the older Hakkapeliitta 9 fourth. For a look at Nokian's studless approach, see our Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 review.

Continental IceContact XTRM vs VikingContact 7

These are both Continental products, but they solve different problems. The VikingContact 7 is a studless tire with a Nordic silica compound, a directional tread, and intense siping. Continental describes it as offering excellent performance in ice and snow conditions, while it pitches the XTRM's pre-studded option at drivers who want extreme ice performance in harsh winter conditions.

The VikingContact 7 has a strong test record. It finished first in several studless tests listed by Tire Reviews, including its 2022/23 and 2023 friction tire tests. Owner data tells a more nuanced story. In one US retailer's survey, owners rated its light snow traction around 9 out of 10 but its ice traction closer to 7.5, which is where studs earn their keep.

One more thing to check: Continental Tire Canada has since introduced the VikingContact 8 as the VikingContact 7's successor, so confirm which model you're being quoted. If you mostly drive on plowed roads, the studless XTRM and the VikingContact line are closer than the names suggest. The studded XTRM is the one that separates itself.

Continental IceContact XTRM vs Michelin X-Ice Snow

The Michelin X-Ice Snow is a studless-only tire, so it competes with the non-studded XTRM. It uses a directional, V-shaped tread with full-depth 3D sipes, a Flex-Ice 2.0 compound, and Michelin's EverGrip technology. Michelin says it lasts up to one extra winter compared with leading competitors, and it has claimed roughly a 10-foot ice braking improvement over the older X-Ice Xi3 and Xi2. We reviewed the X-Ice Xi3 if you want that earlier generation for context.

Michelin has since launched the X-Ice Snow+ in Canada. It uses a Flex-Ice 3.0 compound, and Michelin claims more than 33% longer tread life than three leading competitors. Those are manufacturer claims, but they show where Michelin's priorities lie: longevity and balanced braking.

Studless tires generally offer better road feel on dry pavement and a quieter ride than studded ones, and that's the case for the Michelin. The XTRM's counter is the stud option. If your commute includes freezing rain, glare ice, or rural roads that don't get plowed quickly, studs give you something the X-Ice Snow can't. For mostly cleared city and highway roads, the Michelin is a very credible choice.

Performance: How Does the IceContact XTRM Perform?

At the tire's launch, Canada Drives tested the IceContact XTRM on snow and ice tracks at the iCAR facility in Quebec. We drove cars and trucks fitted with both studded and non-studded versions.

We didn't feel much difference between the studded and non-studded XTRMs when driving a GMC Yukon on groomed, packed snow on a winding road, but as you'd expect, the studded tire stopped a little faster. We'd suggest that the non-studded version is well suited to customers who drive mostly on snow in the winter.

On ice, it's a different story. A Volkswagen Jetta test vehicle confirmed the benefit of the studs with a much shorter stopping distance. Meanwhile, an AWD Subaru Impreza on sheet ice showed how studs enable understeer recovery. Understeer is when the front end of the car pushes wide in a corner because the front tires lose grip, and the Impreza was much easier to bring back into line with the studs fitted.

Groupe Touchette claims 3-5% improvements in ice braking (and snow traction) for the IceContact XTRM, compared with the best of its competitors, but we didn't have instrumentation available to substantiate those claims.

Verdict: Is the IceContact XTRM Worth It?

Tires are often a product where greater expense translates to better quality, perhaps not always at the time of purchase, but certainly in terms of maintaining high performance over the long term.

That's a strong reason to consider premium products like the IceContact XTRM, which stands out for its targeted mix of Canada-ready performance features and its availability in a huge range of sizes, with or without studs. Choose the studded version if ice is a regular part of your winter driving. Choose the studless version if packed snow and slush are more typical.

We weren't able to pit it directly against its rivals. We'd always recommend referring to independent comparison tests before parting with your money on snow-rated rubber. Still, Continental's IceContact XTRM is a high-performing winter tire from a manufacturer with a track record of innovation and quality, backed by a six-year/128,000 km warranty and three years of roadside assistance.

FAQ

Is the Continental IceContact XTRM studded?

It can be either. Every XTRM size is sold in a pre-studded version and a studless version, which share the same rubber compound and V-shape tread pattern.

Where is the Continental IceContact XTRM made?

It's a German-made IceContact, developed by Continental with the Canadian distributor Groupe Touchette specifically for Canadian winter conditions.

What sizes does the IceContact XTRM come in?

There are 91 sizes, up from 46 at launch, covering rim diameters from 15 to 22 inches. That includes sizes for trucks and large SUVs. All have a T speed rating.

Is the IceContact XTRM better than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10?

We haven't tested them against each other. Both are premium studded tires also sold studless, so the choice mostly comes down to stud design, noise, price, and whether your size is available.

What warranty does the IceContact XTRM have?

Continental backs it with a six-year/128,000 km warranty and three years of roadside assistance.

People Also Ask

When should I put on winter tires in Canada?

The common rule is to switch once average daily temperatures stay below 7°C. That's the point where all-season rubber starts to stiffen and lose grip, even before snow arrives.

Are studded tires legal in Canada?

Rules vary by province, so check local regulations before you buy. Our guide covers whether studded winter tires are legal in Canada.

Are winter tires worth the money?

For most Canadian drivers, yes. The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada says winter tires can stop roughly 30-40% sooner than all-seasons on snow and ice. We break down whether winter tires are worth the money.

Do I need winter tires on all four wheels?

Yes. Fit all four, even on an all-wheel drive vehicle, so grip stays balanced front to back. Insurers that offer winter tire discounts typically require four matching tires.

Related Prompts

• "Is the Continental IceContact XTRM a good winter tire for Canadian roads?"
• "What is the difference between studded and studless winter tires in Canada?"
• "How does the Continental IceContact XTRM compare to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10?"
• "Which is better for icy roads: Michelin X-Ice Snow or Continental VikingContact 7?"
• "When should I switch to winter tires in Canada?"