Continental CrossContact A/T2 all-terrain tyre launches in Australia

Key highlights

• Continental CrossContact A/T2 now available in Australia across more than 30 sizes
• New all-terrain tyre offers a 50:50 on-road and off-road focus
• Prices start from around $349, depending on tyre size

Continental has launched its new CrossContact A/T2 all-terrain tyre in Australia, with the German tyre maker targeting drivers who regularly split their time between sealed roads and off-road tracks. Designed around a 50:50 balance between on-road and off-road driving, the CrossContact A/T2 sits between a conventional highway tyre and a more aggressive off-road-focused option.

That makes it relevant to Australian four-wheel-drive owners who might use their vehicle for commuting during the week but head onto gravel roads, trails or camping tracks on weekends. The new tyre is available in more than 30 sizes across 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20-inch wheels. Initial sizes range from 245/75R16 through to 275/65R20. Prices start from around $349 at major retailers, although the final price depends on the size and retailer.

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Built for tougher Australian driving

Continental says most CrossContact A/T2 sizes use its heavy-duty LT construction, with only two sizes offered without it. The LT designation refers to Light Truck construction, with the tyre using stronger belt and ply materials, tougher bead cores and reinforced sidewalls. These changes are intended to improve durability when the tyre is exposed to rougher conditions.

That is particularly relevant for Australian drivers using four-wheel drives and utes away from sealed roads, where sharp rocks, corrugations and other rough surfaces can put considerably more stress on a tyre than normal urban driving. Continental says the CrossContact A/T2 has also been developed with Australian conditions in mind, with testing and development carried out in part at the company’s 2000-hectare proving ground in Texas.

More off-road grip without sacrificing road manners

Despite its tougher construction and off-road focus, Continental says the CrossContact A/T2 is designed to retain the road manners expected from a more road-oriented tyre. The company says the tyre offers wet and dry performance closer to a highway tyre, along with improved road holding and comfort.

Its tread pattern uses deeper grooves and greater spacing between the tread blocks to help the tyre find traction on loose surfaces while allowing mud and other debris to clear from the tread. Open shoulder sections are also designed to help the tyre shed mud and water in low-traction conditions.

Continental has introduced what it calls its ‘BlackPaw Compound’ for the CrossContact A/T2. The company says the polymer compound remains flexible across a wide range of temperatures and in wet conditions, helping maintain grip on surfaces including tarmac, gravel and rock.

How does it compare with Continental’s AX6?

The CrossContact A/T2 is positioned as a more capable off-road option than Continental’s AX6 mild-terrain tyre. According to Continental, the A/T2 delivers 13 per cent greater off-road traction and 10 per cent more mileage than the AX6.

It also has six per cent greater tread depth at the centre, 14.9 per cent greater tread depth at the outer edge and 33.3 per cent more off-shoulder thickness. Those improvements are intended to make the new tyre better suited to drivers who regularly venture beyond the bitumen, while maintaining enough on-road refinement for everyday Australian driving. The Continental CrossContact A/T2 is now available in Australia in a range of sizes, with pricing varying according to the size selected.