Sidewall failure appears in 26% of these reports; about 1.8× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 1,668 reports filed against Continental tires across every line and vehicle that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problem	This subject	All tire complaints	Relative
Sidewall failure	26%	15%	1.8×
Blowout or sudden deflation	25%	20%	1.3×
Tread or belt separation	12%	13%	0.9×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	11%	6%	1.8×
Cracking or dry rot	8%	9%	0.9×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	7%	8%	0.9×

Mileage at failure

1,019 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 18,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 3,000 and 43,993 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Continental. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

I PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA CIVIC EX EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES SIZE 205/55R16 H. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A TIRE LOOSING NITROGEN PRESSURE AND SETTING OFF THE TPMS. I RETURNED THE CAR TO MY HONDA DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY EXPLANATION WHY THE TIRE WAS LOOSING PRESSURE. A MONTH LATER WITH ONLY 1500 MILES ON THE CAR AND TIRES, THE SAME TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WITH JUST NORMAL DRIVING. CONTINENTAL TIRE WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY SIDEWALL PROBLEM AS THEY FALSELY QUALIFY ALL SIDEWALL PROBLEMS AS ROAD HAZARD. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TIRE OF ANY BRAND JUST BLOW OUT A SIDEWALL, LET ALONE A BRAND NEW TIRE.

NHTSA complaint 1013414

CPSC: I1420055A. 2013 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATED THE CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE FAULTY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *LN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE DISCOVERED A BUSTED SEAM ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, AND THREE GIANT BUBBLES ON THREE OF THE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint 1036975

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH A SET OF CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES, SIZE: 275/65/R18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 1044276

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-250. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI TRAC TIRES, TIRE SIZE 275/70/18. THE DOT NUMBER WAS A31546U00909. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH UP AN INCLINE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE SIDEWALL EXHIBITED CRACKS AND THE INNER WIRE BELTS WERE VISIBLE. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,548.

NHTSA complaint 1067113

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Specs

Brand	Continental
Model	ContiSportContact 5
Season	N/A
Type	N/A
UTQG treadwear	280
UTQG traction	AA
UTQG temperature	A
Mileage warranty	N/A
Noise (dB)	N/A
Introduced	N/A

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Available sizes (52)

Continental ContiSportContact 5: what the numbers tell you

A UTQG of 280 is short-life by design. This is a high-grip compound that trades wear life for grip. Expect 15,000-25,000 miles of useful tread on a daily-driven vehicle. No mileage warranty is published for this tire, which is typical for performance summer and track-day rubber where the manufacturer doesn't make wear-life claims.

Cabin noise data for this tire is not published by the manufacturer. As a general tire built for the passenger segment, the ContiSportContact 5 is positioned against direct rivals within the same category. Comparing it to a tire in a different category (e.g. summer vs all-season) makes the spec sheet misleading because the design targets are not the same.

Introducing the Continental ContiSportContact 5: the ultimate tire for high-performance driving enthusiasts. Designed to deliver exceptional handling, precise steering response, and outstanding traction, this tire is engineered to elevate your driving experience to new heights. The ContiSportContact 5 boasts an advanced tread compound that combines the perfect balance of grip and longevity. Its innovative silica-infused tread compound ensures maximum traction on both dry and wet surfaces, enabling you to confidently tackle sharp corners and navigate through challenging road conditions. Whether you're accelerating on the highway or taking tight turns on winding roads, this tire's exceptional grip will keep you firmly planted on the asphalt. One of the standout features of the ContiSportContact 5 is its unique tread pattern. This asymmetric design optimizes the tire's contact with the road, resulting in enhanced steering precision and responsive handling. The tire's wide circumferential grooves efficiently evacuate water, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and maintaining superior wet traction. This means you can enjoy a thrilling driving experience in any weather conditions, knowing that your tires will keep you safe and in control. Furthermore, the ContiSportContact 5 is engineered with Continental's innovative BlackChili compound technology. This cutting-edge formulation combines high-performance synthetic rubbers with specially engineered carbon black particles, resulting in reduced rolling resistance and improved fuel efficiency without compromising on grip or tread life. You can experience exhilarating performance while being mindful of your vehicle's fuel consumption. Comfort and stability are also top priorities with the ContiSportContact 5. The tire's optimized contact patch ensures even distribution of pressure, resulting in a smooth and comfortable ride. Additionally, the reinforced sidewalls provide excellent lateral stability during high-speed maneuvers, giving you the confidence to push your vehicle to its limits. The Continental ContiSportContact 5 is available in a wide range of sizes to fit various high-performance vehicles, from sports cars to luxury sedans. Whether you're a passionate driver seeking thrilling performance or a discerning car enthusiast looking for the perfect balance between comfort and handling, this tire is designed to meet and exceed your expectations. Choose the Continental ContiSportContact 5 and unlock the true p

For an apples-to-apples comparison against direct rivals, see the comparison pages linked from this tire's brand index.

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2023

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