Bridgestone UltraWeather vs Continental SecureContact AW tires

Bridgestone vs Continental: Which all-weather tire is right for you?

The Japanese tire giant Bridgestone has a global footprint and is acknowledged for its high-end range of tires that deliver solid performance in the world of motorsports and during daily commutes. The use of advanced polymer engineering, high-grade materials, and innovative features translates Bridgestone tires into top-tier consumer products. The tire manufacturer focuses on structural integrity, refined driving dynamics, and solid multi-weather performance through its wide range of all-weather tires.

Continental is another legendary tire maker that has its base in Hanover, Germany, and has a long history of making tires that offer superior performance. The tire manufacturer utilizes state-of-the-art compounding and advanced engineering to offer tires that deliver remarkable performance and equally brilliant comfort. Continental’s all-weather tires offer exceptional grip, braking, and a smooth, whisper-quiet ride in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions.

In the league of all-weather tires, the Bridgestone UltraWeather and the Continental SecureContact AW are the two close competitors picked for the comparison. The UltraWeather is an all-weather touring tire suitable for use on sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans and offers confident all-weather grip, crisp steering response, and a great mileage warranty coverage. On the other hand, the SecureContact AW is offered as a premium all-weather touring tire for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans. It prioritizes class-leading wet braking, exceptional handling, and superior traction in wet, dry, and winter conditions, complemented by an impressive mile warranty.

If you are looking for a set of all-weather tires that can handle dry, wet, and snow-packed roads, then this UltraWeather vs SecureContact AW tires comparison will help you ditch seasonal swaps and pick a better tire as per your needs. So, let’s use our proprietary SimpleScore to see which tire scores better for traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0–10.

Bridgestone UltraWeather tires

First, let’s talk about the UltraWeather, which comes with the ability to face different weather conditions. Bridgestone has optimized it for improved flexibility in freezing temperatures and resistance to wear in warmer conditions. It has features and compounds to offer superior grip on slick pavement and packed snow, and can also control hydroplaning for improved wet weather performance. This tire is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in dry, wet, and severe winter weather, even in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Overall, the UltraWeather is rated an excellent 9.0 SimpleScore, thanks to its outstanding traction, excellent handling, and great tread life.

Get Bridgestone UltraWeather tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Continental SecureContact AW tires

The Continental SecureContact AW is also designed and engineered to offer promising performance in all four seasons, and its all-weather pattern offers excellent adaptability in different temperatures. Its pattern design comes with elements to offer firm grip in snow, slush, and rain, and it can even ensure optimum resistance against hydroplaning for commanding traction and on-time braking efficiency. Additionally, being a tire from Continental, it also offers low tread noise and enhanced ride comfort during long highway tours.

Overall, the SecureContact AW is rated an excellent 9.5 SimpleScore because of its outstanding traction, handling, and long-lasting tread life.

Get Continental SecureContact AW tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Bridgestone UltraWeather vs Continental SecureContact AW tires on traction

In this section, we will examine the traction and road grip abilities of both tires in dry, rainy, and wintry conditions.

Starting with the UltraWeather, the tire achieves an outstanding 9.2 SimpleScore in traction, ensuring superior grip and performance. Thanks to its optimized rubber compound that adapts to winter weather conditions very well. There are deep circumferential grooves to resist hydroplaning for better wet grip, and the presence of dense siping improves surface-biting ability in rain, shine, and winter weather.

On the other hand, the SecureContact AW is rated an excellent 9.8 SimpleScore in traction, assuring near-perfect road grip in rain, shine, and winter. The specialized all-weather rubber compound and pattern with multiple biting edges and rapid water-clearing channels contribute to solid grip in wet and slick conditions. Likewise, sharper block edges improve drive and grip in dry conditions, while the optimized rubber compound reduces braking distance and offers improved stability on slippery surfaces.

In traction, the SecureContact AW takes the lead with a higher rating and a bunch of exceptional features.

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

Bridgestone UltraWeather vs Continental SecureContact AW tires on handling

Moving on to the handling part, let’s find out which of the two tires leads when it comes to stability, cornering, braking efficiency, and ride control.

The UltraWeather secures an excellent 9.1 SimpleScore for its commanding steering response and handling. Thanks to the solid center ribs and interlocking tread blocks, the tire offers continuous stability when used in lateral forces. The wider footprint ensures consistent steering feedback, confident cornering, and reliable high-speed stability.

Contrarily, the SecureContact AW surprises with a whopping 9.5 SimpleScore in handling. Thanks to rigid outer shoulder blocks and reinforced inner construction, the tire resists tread squirm when used during aggressive steering maneuvers. Similarly, the solid carcass offers crisp turn-in for more composed rides, while the tread block edges and sipes contribute to superior braking performance.

In handling, we see the Continental tire again surpass the Bridgestone tire to secure a 2-0 lead.

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

Bridgestone UltraWeather vs Continental SecureContact AW tires on longevity

Now let’s talk about the long-lasting abilities of both tires to find out which of the two is better at resisting wear and offers an extended service life.

Beginning with the UltraWeather, the tire achieves an 8.9 SimpleScore for its lasting service and also comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty to offer additional purchase trust. The overall construction of the tire is adequately durable to keep the tire in its original shape and offer lasting wear. Likewise, the durable rubber compound and optimized footprint also control the wear rate to provide an extended service life.

Comparatively, the SecureContact AW stuns with an outstanding 9.2 SimpleScore in longevity. This tire also comes with an identical 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty like its peer. Continental’s wear-resistant rubber compound controls wear rate, while the flat contact patch evenly distributes driving pressures to additionally control wear rate and offer an exceptional service until the last usable tread limit.

In longevity, it is again the SecureContact AW that excels with a slightly higher margin to claim a 3-0 victory in all three areas: traction, handling, and longevity.

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

When to use each

Both the UltraWeather and the SecureContact AW are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tires, and therefore, they are good for use in rain, shine, and moderate to severe winter weather. If you live in an area that experiences fall for 6 or more months a year and has temperatures consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, a dedicated set of winter tires is a better option.

Talking about rim sizes, the UltraWeather is suitable for vehicles with 16- to 22-inch rims, while the SecureContact AW is offered in 15- to 20-inch rim options.

Which one should you choose?

Based on overall SimpleScores, the SecureContact AW is clearly a better tire than the UltraWeather (9.5 vs 9.0). However, your decision to buy a set of tires should be based on your driving style and budget.

As far as the prices are concerned, the UltraWeather is available at a starting price of at least $177 per tire, which means a set of four is offered at an initial price of at least $708. On the contrary, the SecureContact AW is available at a starting price of at least $154, making a set of four available at $616.

Looking at SimpleScore, you must choose the UltraWeather if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Honda Civic, Subaru Outback, or Nissan Altima.
• Need a tire that sports reliable touring technology in all-weather conditions from the leading tire giant.
• Are comfortable paying more to buy a tire.

On the other hand, you should pick the SecureContact AW if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Camry, and Audi A4.
• Want a tire that’s better in traction (9.8 vs 9.2).
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (9.5 vs 9.1).
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (9.2 vs 8.9).
• Want a tire that’s overall better and more affordable.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.