Continental SecureContact AW vs Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires

Established in the 1870s, Continental is among the top tire giants in the world and offers premium range of tires that represent highly advanced German engineering. The tire manufacturer is known for its innovation and focuses on incorporating advanced tread technologies that assure enhanced driving experience.

Nexen is a South Korean tire manufacturer founded in 1942 and has made a global name for itself by offering high-quality, value-centric tires. Known for its exceptional warranties and dependable all-weather tires, Nexen often gives tough competition to many established premium brands while maintaining an accessible price point.

Coming from Continental, the SecureContact AW is the tire giant’s an all-new premium all-weather touring tire designed for year-round versatility without the need for seasonal swaps. Likewise, the Nexen N'Blue 4S 2, also known as the N'Blue 4 Season 2, is another versatile and capable all-weather performer built and designed to balance winter safety with extended durability.

If you want to own an impressive set of all-weather tires, this Continental SecureContact AW vs Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires comparison will help you decide which one aligns better with your driving needs, preferences, and budget. Here, we will use our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore to determine each tire’s ability overall, along with their capability in areas like traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0-10. Read on!

Continental SecureContact AW tires

The Continental SecureContact AW is suitable for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans. This premium all-weather tire sports AdaptiveGrip Compound technology, which allows the tread to maintain flexibility in freezing temperatures for excellent winter grip without compromising on the durability part in summer conditions. This tire utilizes Continental’s signature EcoPlus Technology for improved fuel efficiency and long-lasting service life. Additionally, the tire features QuickView Indicators (DWS) to visually alert drivers when the tire is no longer optimized for driving in dry, wet, or snow conditions.

Overall, the SecureContact AW is rated an excellent 9.2 SimpleScore, thanks to its superior all-weather traction, refined handling and comfort, and longer service life.

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

Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires

While the above discussed Continental tire is top-notch, the Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 is nowhere behind because of its highly versatile all-weather touring character. It is suitable for use on coupes, sedans, and CUVs and uses Nexen’s proprietary Advanced Resin Technology to improve braking performance and durability. The N’Blue 4S 2 features a directional tread pattern with multi-wave sipes that interlock for improved stability on dry roads alongside offering sharp biting edges to tackle snow and ice-covered roads. It also focuses on long-lasting value and features design for better ride control in rain, heat, and snow without compromising on the ride quality.

Overall, the N'Blue 4S 2 is rated an excellent 9.1 SimpleScore because of its extended tread life, reliable handling, and great traction in diverse weather conditions.

Get Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Continental SecureContact AW vs Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires on traction

With the overviews of both tires covered, let’s now get into more details of both tires and understand in depth their traction abilities.

The SecureContact AW is rated a 9.3 SimpleScore in traction, assuring superior traction and grip in all weather conditions. The tire also features an asymmetric tread pattern and sports multiple sipes for superior grip on wet and snowy roads. The use of optimized silica compound and bow-shaped siping enhance the tire's ability to bite the surface throughout the tread life. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification brings an assurance of driving with great confidence in moderate to severe winter weather, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

On the contrary, the N'Blue 4S 2 is rated a solid 8.9 in traction, offering a decent grip in diverse weather conditions. The N’Blue 4S 2’s directional tread pattern boosts water evacuation to avoid the risk of hydroplaning. Likewise, it is also engineered to reduce stopping distance in snowy and icy conditions; much better than standard all-season tires. Like its peer, the N’Blue 4S 2 is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for severe snow use.

While the Nexen tire is a dependable choice, the Continental tire’s advanced engineering and innovative tread design gives it a big leap in traction performance. Our winner here – the SecureContact AW!

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

Continental SecureContact AW vs Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires on handling

Let us discuss the handling abilities of these tires and understand which one is better in terms of ride control, stability, steering response, braking efficiency, lane-changing, and cornering throughout the year.

Commencing with the SecureContact AW, it scores a 9.1 in handling for its crisp and predictable steering response. The asymmetric tread pattern along with solid shoulder blocks of this tire boosts cornering performance, while the specialized polymers enhance molecular bonding in the rubber for low rolling resistance, resulting in better fuel efficiency and better steering response. The footprint with multiple sipes and wider base additionally improves braking efficiency and road grip.

On the other hand, the N'Blue 4S 2 is rated an impressive 9.0 SimpleScore for its excellent handling. The tread of this all-weather tire is optimized to provide a well-balanced and stable driving experience. Likewise, it features reinforced shoulder blocks to absorb cornering pressures, and a wide and flat footprint for extra stability at highway speeds. Thanks to the rigid center ribs, the straight-line stability and steering precision are additionally enhanced.

While we see a competitive handling performance, the Continental SecureContact AW marginally excels because of its more refined controllability.

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

Continental SecureContact AW vs Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 tires on longevity

Next, let’s talk about the long-lasting ability of these tires as it is the concern of most tire buyers. Let’s find out which of the two tires is better when it comes to controlling tread wear and covering more miles!

Starting with the SecureContact AW, it scores an outstanding 9.2 in longevity, ensuring a remarkable wear control in all weather conditions. This tire is also backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The EcoPlus technology and optimized contact patch of the SecureContact AW work in conjunction to evenly distribute driving pressures to resist uneven wear and promote extended tread life. Even the inner casing is reinforced optimally to offer longer service life.

Contrarily, the Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 surprises with its near-perfect 9.7 SimpleScore in longevity, exhibiting its pure dominance. It is covered by an excellent 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which further indicates the manufacturer’s confidence in the tire's long-lasting ability. The reinforced inner construction along with specialized rubber compound additionally control the wear rate for longer tread wear.

Both tires are excellent in terms of longevity, but the Nexen N'Blue 4S 2 takes the lead with a higher tread life warranty and better SimpleScore!

ADVANTAGE: Nexen N'Blue 4S 2

When to use each

Both the SecureContact AW and the N'Blue 4S 2 are all-weather tires and therefore, they are good for year-round use in dry, wet, and even moderate to severe winter conditions. They are both Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which makes them useful especially on roads layered with snow or ice, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Talking about the rim sizes, the SecureContact AW is available in 15- to 20-inch rim options, while the N'Blue 4S 2 comes in 15- to 21-inch rim choices.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at overall SimpleScore, the SecureContact AW is slightly better than the N'Blue 4S 2 (9.2 vs 9.1). However, they both are good in one or the other area and therefore, your purchase decision should be based on your specific driving needs, price, and preference over better handling and traction vs better mileage.

Talking about prices, the SecureContact AW is available at an initial price of at least $150 per tire, while the N'Blue 4S 2 is offered at a starting price of at least $111 per tire. This means a set of four Continental tires will cost you at least $600, whereas a set of four Nexen tires will cost you at least $444.

Based on SimpleScore, you should consider the SecureContact AW if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V, or Tesla Model 3
• Need a better and premium all-weather tire at a slightly higher price
• Need a tire that’s better in traction (9.3 vs 8.9) and handling (9.1 vs 9.0)
• Need a tire that comes with many premium features like QuickView Indicators and EcoPlus technology
• Need a tire that’s backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty
• Need a tire that’s more refined and offers whisper-quiet rides

Alternatively, you should choose the N'Blue 4S 2 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Mazda CX-5, Ford Fusion, or Hyundai Elantra
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (9.7 vs 9.2)
• Want a tire that comes with a better tread life warranty (70,000 vs 60,000 miles)
• Need a reliable all-weather tire at a more affordable price point
• Need a tire that comes with wider compatibility options in the rim size range of 15- to 21-inch rims

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.