In 2016, Continental Tyres released two new tyres, the ComfortContact CC6 and the UltraContact UC6, both part of the company’s latest Generation 6 tyre family. These tyres, which are now available in Malaysia, feature various improvements including noise reduction, grip enhancement and comfort improvement, among other things.
In terms of placement, the ComfortContact is an entry-level offering emphasising comfort while the UltraContact UC6 – which introduces a new product line – is aimed at offering enhanced grip and braking performance. It sits in between the CC6 and the mid-range MaxContact rubber.
We sampled both models in China, where Continental engineers and instructors set up specific exercise stations to showcase the abilities of the new tyres.
The stations were based on those found at Continental’s Contidrom test facility in Germany, which features a high-speed 2.8 km oval with specific test sections including a wet braking surface area, an aquaplaning pool, comfort tracks, acoustics tracks and a rim roll-off circle.
The first evaluation station for the ComfortContact CC6 highlighted the tyre’s comfort aspects. The CC6 is said to feature a Whisper Compound technology incorporating polymers with special softeners. These help the tyre adapt better to the roughness of the road surface, reducing the amount of vibration, which also means less tyre noise. The compound also helps make for a higher tread life.
We tried the CC6 on a track with various harsh surfaces. The CC6 was compared to a non-production test tyre which featured a harder compound and a more utilitarian design. Comfort levels were drastic, and easily noticeable. Vibration, especially through the steering, was a lot less with the CC6, and the car felt less bouncy as well.
Tyres normally produce a lot of noise due to the layout of its tread pattern, which is needed to reduce aquaplaning. Continental improved the noise absorption quality on the CC6 with the help of two technologies, called the Harmonic Comfort Chamber and the dB-Eater.
The Harmonic Comfort Chambers are essentially patterns placed on the tyre surface to help cancel out noise by channeling air waves to specific chambers. This is based on the Helmholtz resonance concept. You can also apply the concept of modern exhaust silencer boxes to understand this better.
The dB-Eaters, on the other hand, are specially-designed unique pattern elements that break up the noise waves into smaller waves, much like how wave breakers are used at shorelines to smoothen rough waves in coastal areas.
Just like with the comfort test, we drove a car shod with CC6 along lanes fitted with noise walls (made of wood and tarpaulin) and compared to it to a car fitted with non-production test tyres. The car fitted with CC6 drove along with significantly much less noise bouncing off the walls compared to the baseline example.
With the UltraContact UC6, tests included wet performance and braking. To improve its performance in the wet, the UC6 has features known as Aqua Channels and Aqua Drainage to help improve grip.
The basics of wet grip are simple. When you drive on a wet surface, water tends to sit between the tyre and the road surface, reducing contact, which then reduces grip and increases the chance of aquaplaning. The idea here is to reduce the collection of water to improve performance.
The Aqua Channels help accelerate the water evacuation into the main grooves, while Aqua Drainage elements are placed around the centre of the tyre thread where the risk of aquaplaning is higher. These elements help channel water through a block design that pushes the water into the main grooves, where it can be evacuated efficiently.
Another technology which aims to improve wet performance is the Diamond Edge Pattern. This features a symmetrical sloping edge (chamfered) in the pattern which helps wipe water film away while braking. It works something like a windscreen wiper and it helps improve stopping performance in the wet.
Additionally, this pattern prevents the “rolling-in” effect of the pattern blocks while braking, which improves overall braking performance (wet and dry). During the wet braking test, we were asked to drive along on a wet surface before slamming hard on the brakes, with the UC6 being compared to Mirage MR 199 tyres. The UC6 stopped within 24 metres, while the Mirage came to a halt after 26 metres.
The UC6 also features a self-adapting compound called Diamond Blend, which contains two types of polymers. The first are short-grip polymers, which absorb more energy when the car is going through a corner or under braking. Continental claims that the energy is then transformed into heat, which improves overall grip. The longer-mileage polymers, meanwhile, help ensure better tread life.
We tested the UC6 around a wet circle and felt less understeer compared to the competitor tyre, offering more grip before breaking traction. The UC6 also features Noise Breakers 2.0, technology to help make the tyre quieter.
The Continental ComfortContact CC6 and UltraContact UC6 are currently available in Malaysia, in 13- to 16-inch and 15- to 18-inch size options respectively.
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I tried the mc5 circa 2014 and it was the greatest waste of money i’ve spent on tires. Grip was poor, comfort wasn’t anything to shout home about and it was pretty much a poor performer durability wise.
Tried Bridgestone Turanza GR90 and it too was pathetic for its so called comfort tires title.
Nothing beats Michelin PS3 except for PSS.
(I spend approx 2k on tires a YEAR so yes im quite particular on tires)
Yup I agreed, even their so called top of the line Conti Max Contact also is disappointing.. Never gona touch Conti again after two of the CC5 fitted on our Exora blew for no reason while crusing at a federal road.. No impact, no puncture nothing, the sidewall just decided to give away and blew. Dont believe me ? Just go to any tyre shop and press the sidewall of Conti tyres..its so soft and comparable to chapalang tyres and those unknown China brands.
I don’t think MC5 is Conti’ top of range tyre. It should be CSC or the Sports Contact series
/omg even the cc5!?
its terrible man ….blew up without any reason..but my CC2 is fine to me and been used almost 4 years.
sidewall soft doesn’t mean it easy blew. have you really investigate , why suddenly 2 of them having the problem. could be others root cause.
Yes michelins are still way better
Why?
you must be retarded to compare MC5 or Turanza to PS3. fyi the top range road car tyre from conti is sport contact not max contact. u need to compare CSC5 against PS3/PS4.
For me using michelin pilot sport 4 225/45/17 it’s been super wonderfull in this raining season
1.fuel economy
2.comfort
3.more control n feedback from the tyre to the steering
4.confident in cornering at high speed
5.maximum shorter braking in dry n wet
It’s only my opinion okk
You cannot beat my pirelli tyres
Has been asking around for UC6 around Klang Valley, no one seems to stock it yet.
more choices for the public.
china made continental?
looks like Michelin somehow beats all these guys hands down. its the benchmark in tires.
No love for Mazda 6 , 19 inchers?
Agreed that Michelin (tried PS3 before) is so far all round best for most tyres. Pirelli is grippy too but too noisy.
any official price for any size ?
When you said compared cc6 against non production tire..
I don’t understand the term non production tire?
What is it?
It’s also a continental tire? Whats the difference non production tire and other tire?
Just think of try this brand of tires, can see continental workshop everywhere…
anyone experienced with this model of tires?
Actually CC model in malaysia is quite common, can say quite many ppl using that, because the experience and feeling are great
Curious of this continental review on malaysia market, how is their rating currently?
anyway do cheap car using this tires also?
rating i think need to wait for few months or a year ,maybe?
i think this tires sure high cost categories LOL…
cheap car can go for cheap price tire, 2 hand also no a big deal.
Seriously i also thinking like that, but how we define cheap or luxury car, i think as long as using a confidence tires should be good enough, in case anything happen while you speeding, you got to be responsible on it
seem like this two model of tires got different use, from the chart can see one is for mileage, another one for wet braking, got to think and decide which to go
so surprise it been arrived to Malaysia and start for sales. heard a lots of comment on CC6, think its the most comfort and suit for those safe drive people. wet braking i don’t think it make sense lol….. when the rain is down i think mostly people will slow down the speed also.
So far, I just using cheap tyre, as long as it can run smoothly
saw that some of the series of conti only cost RM150++, just different RM20-40 compare to my current tyres
should I upgrade to conti?
any suggestion to me?
why dont just spend a bit like rm20-40 to use more confidence brand of tires, some more the tires do really have the features and benefits, better quality have their value
CC5 is better than CC6 in the rain. The CC5 tyres wont pull unlike CC6 when hit a puddle of water. I will try the UC6 next.
it really so much different？
my car just using the ori tires and i’m not sure what branch is it, but so far i don encounter any problem even 4 years pass.
My Myvi with CC6 seems easy to slip away on highway compare with XM2. This is due to alligment issue?
Tbh I am very disappointed with the CC6. Wet grip is horrible I keep on wheelspin when accelerate out of junction or slight incline when road is wet. Wet cornering is also super scary. I am running on 195/55R15 on 1.5L jazz. The wet grip is on par as my other car on skinny 175/65R14 silverstone kruizer tyres. I don’t believe the CC6 wet braking is better than CC5. Even dry cornering is scary as it feels like the soft tyre walls are compressing alot.
The main plus point is its very quiet and comfortable. Even better than Michelin’s XM2. Its uncle tyres suitable if you drive 1.3L car and always below 80kmh.
I am now afraid to even try the UC6.