Continental VikingContact 7 Review

The next-generation of Continental’s impressive VikingContact winter tire is here.

PROS

  • High level of stability and handling on snow-covered roads
  • Impressive handling on clear roads too
  • Roadside assistance included
  • Road Hazard warranty

CONS

  • Limited sizes

   

Standing out from other winter ties, the VikingContact 7 has one of the most unique tread patterns around. While we understand a cool tread design is part of the reasons to purchase on an all-terrain tire, it’s not normally something anyone considers for a winter tire. So take it with a grain of salt, but this is a pretty cool looking winter tire. The diamond pattern looks perfectly matched to the quilted leather interior of a luxury crossover or SUV.

Even the sidewall is stylish with its snowflake motif.

Thankfully the design isn’t just for aesthetics. The tread is built to give a significant contact patch and stability when driving on snow. As a result, these tires give you confidence on sow-packed roads and they back that up with excellent maneuverability too!

Traction is generated thanks to the incredible amount of sipes designed into each tread block. The sipes are in varying widths as well, helping grip

Handling on dry roads is actually quite impressive, which isn’t true of many winter tires. Often, the softer compounds and heavy siping of a winter tire make for tread blocks that flex excessively under load and don’t offer the most confidence-inspiring handling. To combat this, Continental designed the diamond blocks with tie-bars that inter-connect, giving added stability.

One thing to note is that this is a directional tire tread. That helps with its on-snow performance-focus. However, it also limits your ability to rotate the tires side-to-side.

We’re big fans of Continental’s Total Confidence Plan (see warranty info below), especially of the road hazard warranty portion.

If there’s one drawback of this tire right now, it’s that the size options are extremely limited.

Continental VikingContact 7 Price

Pricing for the Continental VikingContact 7 ranges from less than $100 per tire to just under $200 per tire. We recommend checking online retailers for the exact price for your vehicle.

   

Continental VikingContact 7 Warranty

Like almost all winter tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 does not come with a mileage guarantee. It does, however, receive Conti’s Total Confidence Plan. This includes flat tie roadside assistance, where you’ll receive a free tire change or tow for up to 150 miles. It also includes a 60 day satisfaction guarantee, plus a limited warranty that covers defects with a full replacement in the first 12 months of ownership. Plus (and this is one of our favorites) there’s also a road hazard warranty, meaning that if you hit a pothole or a nail and ruin your tire in the first 12 months of ownership, Continental will also replace your tire free of charge.

On top of the Total Confidence Plan, this tire comes with three years of roadside assistance.

Continental VikingContact 7 Sizes

15-inch sizes

195/65/R15

16-inch sizes
205/60/R16
215/60/R16
205/55/R16
215/55/R16

17-inch sizes
215/55/R17
225/55/R17
215/45/R17
225/50/R17
225/45/R17

18-inch sizes
235/55/R18
245/60/R18
235/65/R18
245/40/R18

19-inch sizes
235/55/R19

20-inch sizes
245/50/R20

Is the Continental VikingContact 7 a directional tire?

It’s hard to tell by looking at it, but the Continental VikingContact 7 does make use of a directional tread pattern. Not only does this design element help in gripping the snow under acceleration and braking, its unique channels also help reduce hydroplaning and easily evacuate slush on the road.

Is the Continental VikingContact 7 a run flat tire?

The VikingContact 7 is available both as a run flat and not. Run flat options re signified with the letters SSR after their name. These tires can travel up to 50 miles (at speeds of up to 50 mph) when completely flat thanks to reinforced sidewalls.