Continental SecureContact AW vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires

All-weather tires are considered the most versatile choice for drivers looking for traction and crisp handling in dry, wet, and severe winter weather. In the premium range of all-weather tires, we just got an all-new tire on the market called the “Continental SecureContact AW”, and the tire, since its launch, has been creating buzz among drivers because of its exceptional all-weather driving abilities. However, in the league of all-weather tires, some already ruling choices can give tough competition to the new entrant. One such tire picked for the comparison with the SecureContact AW is the Cinturato WeatherActive from Pirelli.

Both the SecureContact AW and the Cinturato WeatherActive offer the convenience of using a single set of tires year-round, in all-weather conditions (rain, shine, and moderate to severe winter), allowing you to drive confidently on the roads that could be dry, wet, or even layered with snow or ice in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. These tires are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certified, assuring commanding grip and traction in winter weather.

While the Continental all-weather tire offers a balanced touring experience, responsive steering, and long-lasting service with its cutting-edge innovations and optimized pattern design, the Cinturato WeatherActive from Pirelli comes with similar traits and is optimized to offer crisp handling, traction, braking, and extended service. Both tires are backed by generous warranties, offering a nice return on purchase.

But, there’s a lot more that we need to understand about them, and therefore, we will analyse their overall abilities, and compare traction, handling, and longevity based on SimpleScore on a scale of 0-10.

Continental SecureContact AW tires

The Continental SecureContact AW is the brand’s flagship touring all-weather tire made for use on passenger cars, CUVs, and SUVs. The tire sports features and abilities to provide excellent all-weather service, backed by its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. It utilizes patented ECOPLUS+ Technology improved fuel efficiency/drive range, better braking performance, and longer tread life. Continental has also offered the tire with features like AdaptiveGrip Compound technology to maintain rubber flexibility in freezing temperatures for enhanced winter performance and stay durable to resist heat and wear in summer. The other noteworthy features, like QuickView Indicators and Alignment Verification System, are also some really admirable features borrowed from other Continental tires on the market to visually alert drivers about the tire’s wear or alignment status. Furthermore, the SecureContact AW is also offered with a 60,000 mile manufacturer tread life warranty, returning great value on purchase.

Overall, the SecureContact AW gains a 9.2 SimpleScore because of its excellent traction, long-lasting tread life, and responsive all-weather handling.

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

Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires

Introduced in September 2022, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive has proven its outstanding all-weather driving abilities in recent years. The tire offers balanced all-weather driving in dry, wet, and severe winter conditions, thanks to its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. The tire is built and designed for use on passenger cars and comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty to further delight buyers. The Cinturato WeatherActive is also offered with impressive siping technology for consistent winter performance and has a balanced footprint for longer service. The use of unique grooves, advanced rubber compound, and new-gen pattern design additionally boosts the tire’s ability to perform in varied weather conditions.

It gets an outstanding 9.4 overall SimpleScore, thanks to exceptional all-weather traction, superior handling, and extended service.

Get Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Continental SecureContact AW vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on traction

Let’s commence the comparison with traction and learn which tire is better at holding the surface in dry, wet, and snowy/icy conditions.

The Continental SecureContact AW is rated an outstanding 9.3 in traction, which confirms its excellent grip in diverse weather conditions throughout the year. The advanced asymmetric tread pattern utilizes a unique rubber compound to offer better braking than the Cinturato WeatherActive tire (based on the internal tests conducted by Continental under standard conditions). Likewise, the sipes are in abundance across the tread for extra grip and traction in wet and wintry conditions.

On the contrary, we have the Cinturato WeatherActive with an outstanding 9.7 SimpleScore in traction. This tire sports zigzag central grooves and ‘Trumpet’ shaped lateral grooves for solid traction in snow and wet conditions. Likewise, the innovative compound with a new polymer/resin keeps it glued to the surface in wet weather conditions. The narrow and elongated contact patch of the Cinturato WeatherActive helps in better grip on snow-covered roads, whereas the deep and continuous siping delivers consistent grip and traction throughout the tire’s lifespan.
Here, we see that the Pirelli tire gains a higher SimpleScore rating, indicating better traction performance than the Continental tire.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive

Continental SecureContact AW vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on handling

Handling relates to ride control, stability, lane-changes, braking performance, and cornering performance. So, let’s find out which tire leads here.

With a 9.1 SimpleScore in handling, the Continental tire is certainly an excellent performer. Based on internal tests conducted by Continental, the SecureContact AW is 6% better than the Pirelli tire in wet braking and 7% in snow handling. In wet conditions, too, the SecureContact AW is better than the Cinturato WeatherActive based on internal test results conducted by Continental in standard conditions. Additionally, features like zigzag central grooves, optimized rubber compound, and balanced footprint boost the tire’s handling performance in all weather conditions.

On the other hand, the Cinturato WeatherActive earns a fantastic 9.6 SimpleScore in handling, indicating its dominance in this area too. This tire surpasses the SecureContact AW tire on the dry braking front, based on internal test results conducted by Continental. For improved wet handling and responsive braking performance, the tire features zigzag central grooves and a wide contact patch that helps in superior control and stability year-round. Thanks to the deep sipes, the stopping distance is reduced in snowy and wet conditions.

In handling, too, we see the Pirelli tire dominating with a higher SimpleScore; however, the Continental tire comes with advantages like better braking and snow handling.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive

Continental SecureContact AW vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on longevity

Let’s now talk about the long-lasting abilities of both tires and find out which of the two has a long tread life.

With a 9.2 SimpleScore, the Continental SecureContact AW confirms its extended service and great wear-resisting abilities. Its ECO Plus technology helps in consistent and even wear, while the optimized contact patch evenly distributes driving pressures for longer wear. The backing of 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty is another indication of the tire’s ability to serve longer.

On the other hand, the Cinturato WeatherActive is rated 9.0 for its great long-lasting ability. The innovative rubber compound with new polymer/resin improves mileage for extended use, and the balanced footprint promotes even wear. The deeper tread and sipes additionally contribute to a long-lasting use by putting more rubber on the road. This tire also comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, proving the manufacturer’s trust in its wearability.

With a marginal difference of 0.2, we see that the newly launched SecureContact AW stands as a better long-lasting option for all-weather tire seekers.

ADVANTAGE: Continental SecureContact AW

When to use each

Both the SecureContact AW and Cinturato WeatherActive are all-weather tires engineered for use in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions. They can be called a more versatile choice than standard all-season tires because of their severe snow rating. However, their utility is limited to paved roads in most cases, unless you are buying an all-terrain tire for your CUV, SUV, or pickup that’s severe snow rated. For over a few inches of snow, in freezing winter conditions (for regions not witnessing summers too often), you may also choose a dedicated set of winter tires.

As far as the rim sizes are concerned, the SecureContact AW is available in 15- to 20-inch rim choices, whereas the Cinturato WeatherActive is available in 16- to 20-inch options.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at the overall SimpleScore, the Cinturato WeatherActive from Pirelli is a better tire than the SecureContact AW (9.4 vs 9.2). That said, both tires have their own merits, and therefore, you must take your priorities into consideration for traction, handling, and longevity.

Talking about the prices, the SecureContact AW is available at a starting price of $150 per tire, while the Cinturato WeatherActive is available at a starting price of $145 per tire. This means a set of four SecureContact AW tires costs $600 per tire, while a set of four Cinturato WeatherActive tires costs $580 (roughly a difference of $20 on four tires).

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

• Drive vehicles like the Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Camry, or Kia Telluride
• Need a tire that’s better in longevity
• Need a tire that’s better in dry braking
• Want the added protection of the Continental Total Confidence Plan

On the other hand, you should choose the Cinturato WeatherActive if you: Drive vehicles like the Audi A6, Nissan Altima, or Chevrolet Cruze

• Need a tire that’s better in snow and wet handling
• Need a tire that’s better in snow traction
• Need a tire that’s more affordable and features an innovative compound and world-class tire technologies

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.