Trying Out The Continental UltraContact UC7 Tyre

Trying Out The Continental UltraContact UC7 Tyre

The Continental UltraContact UC7 was introduced in Malaysia in September, but only held an official launch recently with over 100 dealers attending the event in Langkawi. The UC7 is the first of Continental’s Generation 7 range introduced by Continental Tyre Malaysia, and succeeds the popular UltraContact UC6.

As an all-round tyre, the UltraContact UC7 is designed to offer a combination of safety, comfort and long life, and meet the current and foreseeable requirements of the market. It also had to be an upgrade to the preceding UC6 tyre which was a popular and successful model for Continental. “The specific needs and driving habits of consumers are constantly evolving, and Continental Tires is committed to bringing continuous innovations that meet those changing needs. We invest heavily in the development of every single product we bring to the market, and the resulting UltraContact UC7 truly represents a next-generation upgrade,” said Dalibor Kalina, Head of BA Replacement Tires Asia Pacific.Continental UltraContact UC7_Tyre

A global team of about 25 engineers and material experts had spent over 9,500 hours designing, simulating, building, and testing prototypes. Through its intensive research and development programmes, Continental finalised a combination of 3 prominent characteristics to form the UltraContact UC7 i.e. DNA : Diamond Compound, Noise Breaker 3.0, and Aqua Channel Advanced. These characteristics are meant to deliver the advantage of outstanding wet performance, noise reduction, and long driving life.Continental UltraContact UC7_DNA

For outstanding wet performance, the tyre needed to provide exceptional grip on slippery / wet roads and also a shorter braking distance. Continental had designed the Aqua Channel Advanced surface sipes on the center part of the tyre tread pattern to evacuate water more efficiently and optimise tread contact with the road surface. In effect, this also helps to reduce the risk of hydroplaning or aquaplaning where a layer of water gets in between the tyre and road surfaces and causes the loss of traction.

Continental_UltraContact UC7_Tread PatternComplementing this is the Noise Breaker 3.0 design. The application of the Venturi effect via the incorporated Flow X-celerator “bumps” in the grooves is an innovation that works to accelerate water flow through the grooves. By quickly clearing water, surface contact can be optimised. Furthermore, tiny details on the tread blocks, including the spacing between the blocks, are based on the Noise Breaker 3.0 principle and serve to interrupt the consistency of the sound waves travelling along the tyre. The end result is a quieter drive.

Continental Tyre Malaysia_Wet TestMeanwhile, the Diamond Compound has an optimised polymer network formulated by a team of in-house material experts to provide driving and grip performance without compromising on the tyre’s usable life. The Diamond Compound formulation of resin and silica not only has better wear resistance, it also contributes to reduced noise generation by absorbing more of the road impact and dampening it. Moreover, this compound enhances the transformation of kinetic energy into heat thus allowing for the tyre to get into the optimal operating range even on wet roads. This helps to provide shorter braking distances even on slippery surfaces.

The Noise Breaker 3.0 design also provides a quieter and more harmonic drive due to a smoother vibrational frequency. As sound waves travel through the grooves, the Noise Breaker 3.0 interrupts the waves by disrupting the homogeneity of the grooves. The sound waves get broken up and dissipated into smaller waves, preventing noise from building up and traveling into the cabin of the car. The Diamond Compound with whisper touch also contributes to reduced noise generation by absorbing impact from the road.

In the development phase, Continental engineers had conducted over 850 tests in various conditions, putting in total mileage that equalled to circling Earth about 12 times. “We have put this tyre through rigorous rounds of testing to ensure we meet our own exacting standards and can deliver cutting-edge tyre technology to consumers. We will continue to do so as we further expand the portfolio to establish powerful, competitive offerings for the market,” said Bob Liu, Director of R&D Asia Pacific.Continental_Tyre_Drive_Road

And so in Langkawi, we were given the chance to sample these improvements. A fleet of Mercedes-Benz C-Class were fitted with the UltraContact UC6 and UC7 for us to compare their performance. Mother Nature seemed to be aware of our mischief and helped by providing some cool and wet weather. On the winding (and sometimes wet or damp) roads, the UC7 did prove marked improvements over the UC6. The UC7 allowed for more confidence in the corners due to the additional grip provided. There is also a feeling of less flex from the UC7 compared to the UC6 and as such there is less hesitation to take a corner at a faster pace.

We also tested the tyres over puddles though none went the extreme to encourage aquaplaning since we were on public roads. These tests got more aggressive in a controlled area where we sampled both the UC7 and UC6 through slalom, quick lane change, and braking courses in wet and dry conditions. While the UC6 is no slouch in its own right (as an all-round mid-range tyre), the UC7 gave more assurance throughout the course with the improved grip it offered especially on the wet courses. The UC7 consistently had shorter braking distances in the wet (though we didn’t exactly bring out the tape measure every time we slammed on the brakes). Over the dry course though, the difference was not as significant.Continental UltraContact UC7_Wet

Similarly, while on the road, you can still detect the tyre noise from the UC7. The difference however, is that the sound frequency produced is different from the UC6. According to Continental, the sound waves travelling through the tyre grooves are broken up into smaller waves by the tread design. This prevents noise build-up in the cabin and offers a more pleasant drive.

Continental Tire_Development EngineerAll these improvements we experienced are the cumulative outcome of its DNA principle to provide better performance and driving life. It probably also helps that a Germany-based Malaysian development engineer, who has experience and insight on our traffic and road conditions, is involved in the development of this tyre. According to Andrea Somorova, Managing Director of Continental Tyre Malaysia, the company makes an effort to customise its products to meet the distinct requirements of the customers in its respective markets.

For an all-round tyre sitting below Continental’s more premium performance categories, the UltraContact UC7 offers a good balance at an acceptable price. The UC7 is suited for cars (from compact to luxury sizes) and MPVs / SUVs, and is a prime consideration for most drivers. Continental currently has the UC7 available in sizes ranging from 15″ to 18″, and is planning to introduce more size options.

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