Conti wintercontact SI... anybody have these?

[Tweakophyte]

Hi-

Looking for feedback on the Continental Wintercontact SI for our car, preferably in the 245/40R18 size. I know a lot of people go for the Blizzaks, Alpine P4, and Nokian, and am hoping I can get some feedback specific to the wintercontact.

What environment do you use these in?
How is dry performance?
How is the squirm factor? My commute is primarily on grooved concrete.

Thanks,

[nbooks]

I actually just mounted a set 2 weeks ago. Been fine so far, but I'm in the northeast and its 60 degrees today...

I had nothing but great luck with their last yen snow tire, don't expect much less from these. Definitely have some good beefy siping/tread blocks.

[circle]

I ended up grabbing a set last winter and was very happy. Dry performance is amazing. I felt like I noticed my car was a bit slower when I put my summer yokohamas on last spring. Snow and Ice was totally competent. My car slid a bit on the first day I got it (new car, fresh snow, very tough curve), but once I figured it out never had another issue. Competent for me means driving with no problems along what I call the "polar express" aka the right lane. Since snow just gets pushed there by ploughs, there's less lane space and fewer people driving on it, more accumulation etc. Hence polar express.

I've used michelin pilot alpine and that's what i originally wanted but was very happy. I've also had the xice 2's and while they have the best ice traction, their dry grip/acceleration was shit.

[AK_S4]

I just got the contiwintercontact ts 830p about a month ago. The dealer suggested them. I couldn't find much info on them in the US but there's a European review I read that placed them first in studless winter tires over the blizzak. I live in Alaska and we've had about 10" of snow at one time that turned to ice so far and now it's completely melted. So far they've been great in all three conditions. I've owned blizzaks, I pikes and studded Nokia hakkapellittas. I'd say they are the best of the studless tires ive used but no where near as much traction as the hakkapellittas. I just don't need studs anymore being that our driveway is no longer a steep ice rink. I know it's not the exact tire you were looking at but I'd imagine they're similar. Good luck

[no_money2supe]

Not sure any comments now will help the OP make up his/her decision on getting the Conti's but at least these comments will help new viewers of this thread. Anyway, I just had the Wintercontact SI's mounted on the wife's Q5 2 weeks ago. First impressions, wow, these tires are soft - even mounted on 19s (mounted 235/55R19's on my S4's stock peelers)! They do tend to squirm around a bit especially in a slalom like turning movement, even at a mere 30-50 km/h (~20-35 mph). Road noise is also quite a bit louder compared to the Hankook i-cept evo's I have on my S4. However, the Wintercontact SI's are much better than my i-cept evo's when it comes to the white stuff. Haven't had any experiences on black ice just yet though. I've also owned studded Nokian Hak's and Hankook iPike's in the past, as well as having driven on pretty much all the major tires out there (Bridgestone Blizzak's, Mich X-ice's, Toyo Observe's etc). In terms of dry-pavement handling, by far my i-cept evo's have been the best but you're paying a premium for them. But as a true winter/ice tire, I'd rank the Conti's right up near the top, except maybe the studded Hak's for icy conditions but that's an unfair comparison simply due to the studs. Hak's are also VERY squirmy handling-wise in my opinion. I also spent the better part of about 2 hours 'studying' the tread on each of the major winters (only 'cause a cousin owns a tire shop) and overall best of all worlds, I would still pick the SI's over the other tires.