Continental SecureContact AW vs Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires

When it comes to versatility for daily driving and cruising on paved highways, there is no better option than the all-weather tires. They are a better option than standard all-season tires, as they allow you to gain traction in rain, shine, and mild snow conditions, and their utility extends to moderate to severe winter weather.

In the premium all-weather tire category, the Continental SecureContact AW is a new entrant. Because of its outstanding all-weather driving abilities, this tire is getting the attention of enthusiasts and drivers looking for the best bet in four season driving category. Directly competing with this tire is the Bridgestone Weatherpeak, launched in 2022. Hence, we decided to compare them here using our SimpleScore tire rating system, which will help us analyze the overall, traction, handling, and longevity abilities of these two high-end all-weather tires.

But, before we do that, let’s understand a bit more about them on a high level. They both fall in the all-weather tire category, and that’s because they are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) approved for use in moderate to severe winter weather, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Technically, you can trust them for driving on dry roads, in rain, on roads that are covered with up to a few inches of snow or ice. To conquer the roads in freezing conditions, they both come as a reliable option for drivers.

Continental’s SecureContact AW is made for a balanced touring experience, crisp handling, and longer tread life; thanks to its innovative features and computer-tuned tread design. The Weatherpeak from Bridgestone is also a grand touring tire with advanced all-weather driving abilities and promises smooth driving, outstanding traction, and responsive handling. Plus, you get them both with attractive tread life warranties.

So, keeping in mind these little hints, let’s dive deep into this SecureContact AW vs Weatherpeak tires comparison to help you choose the tire that best aligns with your needs!

Continental SecureContact AW tires

First, an overview of the Continental’s flagship touring all-weather tire! The Continental SecureContact AW is designed and engineered for use on passenger cars, CUVs, and SUVs. It has features and abilities that boost traction and performance in all weather conditions, thanks to its severe snow rating and other features. There is ECOPLUS+ Technology for enhanced fuel efficiency/drive range, braking efficiency, and increased service life. Then, the utility of AdaptiveGrip Compound technology makes the tire more flexible and adaptive to varying temperatures (from warmer to freezing, so your drive is glued to the surface).

From a safety standpoint, it gets QuickView Indicators that help you inspect the tire’s ability to perform in each season, and over the wearing period, the letters D (Dry), W (Wet), and S (Snow) wear in reverse order to indicate the tire’s ability to perform. Similarly, there’s the Alignment Verification System, which informs you when it is time to check the tire’s alignment system. What more? So, this new all-weather tire is covered by a 60,000 mile manufacturer tread life warranty, giving you better return on investment.

Overall, the SecureContact AW is rated an excellent 9.2 SimpleScore on a scale of 0-10, thanks to its superior traction, long-lasting service, and responsive handling.

Get the best deals on Continental SecureContact AW tires here

Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires

Moving on to the next tire, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak! The tire was launched in June 2022 and sports high-end Japanese features and technologies, which make it an outstanding choice for those who want to tackle deep snow, ice, watery paths, or dry roads. Whether you own a coupe, sedan, CUV, or minivan, the Weatherpeak is very likely to fit them all. The tire, like its peer, is severe snow rated for use in moderate to severe winter weather, offering a true year-round driving experience. The tire manufacturer has incorporated high-end features, cutting-edge technologies, and offered advanced features to make this tire excellent enough for luxury driving. It is quiet, it is comfortable, and it is made to offer top-notch all-weather driving abilities on the roads.

Since it is “Bridgestone” on the sidewall badging, you get the advantage of maneuvering in control on wet, dry, and snowy conditions, alongside enjoying the drives that are silent and cushioned in most conditions. Additionally, the 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on offer says a lot about the reliability of this all-weather tire.

An excellent 9.4 SimpleScore overall attests the tire’s ability to offer an exceptional all-weather driving experience.

Get the best deals on Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires here

Continental SecureContact AW vs Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires on traction

Now, let’s dive deep into the traction analysis to understand which of the two tires is better at holding the surface in rain, shine, and snow.

Commencing with the SecureContact AW, it earns an excellent 9.3 SimpleScore for its superior traction abilities. This tire features an advanced asymmetric tread pattern carved out of the unique rubber compound to offer better snow traction than the Weatherpeak (based on the internal tests conducted by Continental under standard conditions against Weatherpeak). The tire comes with multiple sipes that provide outstanding grip and traction in wet and light winter conditions.

On the other hand, the Weatherpeak from Bridgestone surprises with a 9.4 SimpleScore in traction and assures excellent traction performance in all-weather conditions. The tire’s tread pattern is so detailed that it helps it maintain better grip in diverse weather conditions. Multiple sipes boost the tire’s surface-holding ability in wet and winter weather conditions. Likewise, the arrangement of wide circumferential grooves helps in forcing water out of the contact patch for increased grip, whereas sharper block edges and optimized rubber compound enhance dry weather grip and traction.

In traction, the SecureContact AW looks solid, but it loses by a small margin. Our winner here is the Bridgestone Weatherpeak!

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Continental SecureContact AW vs Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires on handling

Let’s now talk about the handling front and understand which of the two tires is better when it comes to stability, ride control, braking, cornering, and steering response.

The Continental tire scores 9.1 in handling, confirming its crisp steering response. Based on internal tests conducted by Continental against Weatherpeak, the SecureContact AW offers equally excellent snow handling, better dry and wet braking, superior dry and wet handling, and strong wet braking performance. This tire also comes with zigzag central grooves, an advanced rubber compound, and a wider contact patch that ensures exceptional handling in different weather conditions.

On the other hand, the Weatherpeak earns a better 9.2 SimpleScore in handling. This indicates Bridgestone’s class on the controllability front, too. This tire is outstanding when it comes to dry and snow braking, and similarly, in terms of snow handling, it is on par with the Continental tire. However, in many other areas, the Weatherpeak brings advantages on board. Its flat contact patch allows drivers to maintain optimum stability, whether driving on highways or when you are tackling snow or ice in winter weather. Likewise, its dry braking and wet handling performances are also reasonably good.

In handling, with a slightly higher margin of 0.1, it is the Bridgestone tire that excels.

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Continental SecureContact AW vs Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires on longevity

Longevity is another big concern for tire buyers, and therefore, let’s find out the long-lasting option out of the two in this section.

In longevity, the Continental tire shows its class with an excellent 9.2 SimpleScore, confirming that it has the ability to help you cover not just seasons but also many more miles with a single set. The 60,000 mile tread life warranty also attests to its long-lasting ability, and similarly, the use of patented ECO Plus technology further extends the tire’s use by resisting premature or uneven wear. The contact patch of the SecureContact AW is optimized to evenly distribute driving pressures for lasting wear.

On the contrary, the Weatherpeak achieves a near-perfect 9.8 SimpleScore in longevity, underlining its pure dominance against the Continental tire. Even the tread life warranty offered on this tire is higher (70,000 miles), additionally indicating that Bridgestone is way more confident of the tire’s lasting ability. This tire also uses an innovative rubber compound for extended service, and its contact patch is balanced enough to promote even and longer wear. Longevity was the area where the difference in scores of both tires was maximum, and without any doubt, the Bridgestone tire defeated the Continental tire because of its much better offerings and abilities.

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

When to use each

As we mentioned at the beginning of this comparison, both the SecureContact AW and the Weatherpeak tires are all-weather tires, made for driving in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter weather. They should be used on paved surfaces and not if you are into off-road driving. If, in your region, you witness over a few inches of snow consistently for more than 6 months in a year, go for a full-fledged winter tire.

Talking about the rim sizes, the SecureContact AW is offered in 15- to 20-inch rim choices, whereas the Weatherpeak is available in 15- to 22-inch options. This means the Bridgestone tire offers you a wider compatibility with vehicles on the market.

Which one should you choose?

Based on overall SimpleScore, the Weatherpeak from Bridgestone is a better tire than the SecureContact AW (9.4 vs 9.2). However, both tires are unique in their own ways and have their own strengths. So, cross-check your priorities with the kind of tire you need. As far as the prices are concerned, the SecureContact AW is offered at a starting price of $150 per tire, while the Weatherpeak is available at a starting price of $173 per tire. This means that a set of four SecureContact AW tires is available at $600 per tire, whereas a set of four Weatherpeak tires costs $692.

Looking at SimpleScore, you should choose the Continental SecureContact AW if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Subaru Crosstrek, or Kia Telluride
• Want a more affordable tire
• Want to experience better ride comfort and quieter rides
• Want the added protection of the Continental Total Confidence Plan

Contrarily, you should prefer the Bridgestone Weatherpeak if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Nissan Maxima, or Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (9.8 vs 9.2)
• Want a tire that’s better in overall handling (9.2 vs 9.1)
• Want a tire that’s better in overall traction (9.4 vs 9.3)
• Are comfortable paying more to buy an overall better tire

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.