Continental SecureContact AW vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires

When it comes to choosing one tire for all seasons, all-weather tires are the most preferred ones thanks to their incredible ability to tackle dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions with authority. The latest to hit the market in this category is the Continental SecureContact AW.

In the competitive landscape of all-weather tires, the Continental SecureContact AW and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 represent the pinnacle of year-round versatility. Both tires carry the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, signifying their ability to handle severe snow conditions, yet they approach the challenge of "one tire for every season" with distinct engineering philosophies. Continental focuses on a balanced touring experience, utilizing its EcoPlus Technology and AdaptiveGrip Compound to deliver a whisper-quiet ride and exceptional fuel efficiency. It is designed for the driver who prioritizes long-distance comfort and premium wet-weather braking, often boasting a market-leading mileage warranty.

In contrast, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is built for those who demand summer-like agility regardless of the forecast. It introduces AquaTred Technology with sweeping grooves to combat hydroplaning and Evolving Traction Grooves that maintain grip as the tire wears. While Goodyear places a heavy emphasis on steering precision and wet handling, it also integrates soybean oil-infused rubber to keep the tread pliable in sub-zero temperatures.

So, which one should you go for? Let’s do a Continental SecureContact AW vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires comparison to find out which one is more prominent on different attributes like traction, handling, and longevity. We will be comparing their performances in our SimpleScore, which is our proprietary scoring mechanism that rates each tire’s traction, handling, and longevity traits on a scale of 0 to 10.

Continental SecureContact AW tires

The latest all-weather tire to hit the market, the Continental SecureContact AW is Continental’s first true all-weather tire, designed to eliminate the need for seasonal swaps without sacrificing safety or longevity. Earning the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, the SecureContact AW provides reassuring traction in severe snow while maintaining the refined, quiet ride of a premium touring tire.

The Continental tire features AdaptiveGrip Compound technology, which keeps the rubber flexible in freezing temperatures for winter grip while remaining durable in summer heat. To enhance driver confidence, the tread includes QuickView Indicators, such as "DWS" (Dry, Wet, Snow) and an Alignment Verification System, which visually alerts you to wear or alignment issues. Backed by a generous 60,000 mile manufacturer tread life warranty, it is an eco-friendly, EV-compatible solution for consistent year-round performance.

With an exceptional overall SimpleScore of 9.2, the Continental SecureContact AW assures superior traction, handling, and longevity year-round.

Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires

Introduced in August 2024, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is a next-generation all-weather tire designed to deliver a summer-like driving feel while maintaining severe winter capability. As the successor to the original WeatherReady, it carries the 3PMSF rating and introduces AquaTred Technology, which uses sweeping grooves to stop up to 5 feet shorter on wet roads than leading competitors.

The Goodyear tire utilizes Evolving Traction Grooves that widen as the tire wears, ensuring reliable grip throughout its lifespan. The rubber is infused with soybean oil to stay pliable in freezing temperatures, while ComfortFlex Technology in the sidewall absorbs road vibrations for a smoother ride. Backed by a 60,000 mile Iimited manufacturer tread life warranty and featuring a built-in Wear Gauge, it offers a high-tech, set-it-and-forget-it solution for year-round safety.

With a superior 9.2 overall SimpleScore, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 offers incredible grip, traction, handling, and longevity in different driving conditions.

Continental SecureContact AW vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires on traction

The Continental and Goodyear all-weather tires are excellent when it comes to holding the ground and braking in snow. Let’s have a look at their traction scores.

The Continental SecureContact AW secures an excellent 9.3 in traction, assuring superior grip in unpredictable weather conditions, including moderate to severe ice. Thanks to its asymmetric tread design and unique rubber compound, the Conti tire offers better wet braking than the Goodyear, while the latter is better in dry braking than the former^. By utilizing multiple sipes, the SecureContact AW returns incredible grip and interlocking on wet and snowy surfaces.

Scoring a superb 9.3 in traction, the Goodyear all-weather tire features AquaTred Technology, which comes with sweeping grooves for quick water and slush outflow and mitigates the risk of hydroplaning. Meanwhile, the Evolving Traction Grooves further aid in removing water from the tread to maintain grip. The 3PMSF certification assures its superior grip, traction, and braking in moderate to severe snow.

The Continental SecureContact AW and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 are on par in traction, with scores levelled up.

^The results are as claimed by Continental in their internal tests under standard conditions

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Continental SecureContact AW vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires on handling

Control and stability are the two most critical aspects of a tire that’s driven in wet and wintry conditions. The SecureContact AW and Assurance WeatherReady 2 are simply excellent in handling. Let’s have a look at their respective scores.

Achieving a 9.1 in handling, the Continental all-weather tire outperforms the Goodyear tire in both wet braking and handling as per the company’s internal test claims^. While Assurance WeatherReady 2’s dry braking is better, the SecureContact AW turns out to be excellent by displaying 5% better snow handling. The asymmetric tread design of the Conti further aids in lending outright handling, stability, and control in moderate to severe snow.

Continuing its excellent performance, the Goodyear tire achieves an exceptional 9.2 in handling, assuring confident control and stability throughout the year. The use of unique comfort inserts not only dampens noise and vibrations but also enhances the steering response required for quick lane changes. Additionally, the numerous sipes provide excellent grip, braking, and fast maneuverability in dry, wet, and deep snow conditions.

Boasting a better score, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 beats the Continental SecureContact AW in the handling race by a whisker.

^The results are as claimed by Continental in their internal tests under standard conditions

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2

Continental SecureContact AW vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 tires on longevity

Unlike winter tires, all-weather tires offer longer service life, almost in sync with their all-season cousins. Just like traction and handling, the Continental and Goodyear tires are superb in longevity. Let’s check their scores.

Boasting a 9.2, the Continental SecureContact AW features ECO Plus technology that also aids in ensuring consistent wear while resisting uneven wear. The optimized footprint of the tire puts more rubber on the road for excellent wearability. Covered by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Conti all-weather tire assures a dependable tread life, making it a value for money deal.

Contrarily, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is equally impressive when it comes to service life, scoring 9.2 out of 10. Backed by a superb 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, its all-weather technology features an advanced rubber compound that maintains grip in unpredictable weather conditions while resisting uneven wear and promoting uniform wear throughout its lifecycle.

With a neck-and-neck fight, the Continental SecureContact AW and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 square up scores in longevity.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

When to use each

All-weather tires are designed to offer solid grip, traction, stability, handling, and tread life in different driving conditions like dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions. Both the Continental SecureContact AW and Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 offer exceptional performance in unpredictable weather conditions, including deep ice and snow.

Which one should you choose?

To sum up, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 proves to be a slightly better tire; however, the difference in scores isn’t much. That said, both tires are superb in their overall performance, be it handling, traction, or longevity. However, do check out the individual traits in each tire and choose the one that better aligns with your needs and requirements. Let’s have a look at their prices.

For the 205/55R16 91V size, the Continental tire costs $164 per tire, while four tires cost $656. Similarly, the Goodyear tire costs $184 per tire, while four tires cost $736 (a difference of $80 on four tires).

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Continental SecureContact AW if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Kia Telluride, or the Subaru Crosstrek
• Prefer an all-weather tire with strong traction and tread life
• Want a more affordable all-weather tire
• Like the additional coverage from Continental's Total Confidence Plan

Contrarily, you should go for the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Tesla Model 3, or the Mercedes-Benz CLE
• Need a tire that’s better in handling and offers superb year-round performance
• Are ready to pay a slight premium to buy a capable all-weather 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.