I've read a lot of posts where owners are only getting ~20k out of a set of tires. I'm still running the original ContiTouring Contacts (the optional all-season tires) after 6 summer seasons and 35k+ miles. They've been rotated side to side a couple times and the pressure checked regularly. I took the rims off today to wash and wax the inside (an annual chore to prevent brake dust build-up) and noted that the fronts still have almost 50% of the tread and the rears have another 2/32s until the wear bars are even with the tread. That tells me I should get about 40k out of the rears and a lot more out of the fronts. I'm a little frustrated because I was looking forward to an oversize set of Hankooks, but on the other hand I am in no rush to spend $900. Anyway, in my experience, the Continentals have been an excellent tire.

 

Maybe it's the seasonal temp differences between MI and TX, but my 2005 Condi's with just over 7k miles were rock hard and basically had no traction. Once I had the Hancooks installed, it felt like a completely different car with a smoother ride and a better grip on turns.

 

When you get to the wear bars you are scrapping the bottom of the barrel, the tires are no good in the rain at that point. Aquaplaning leads to at least a bent car and it's not worth it. Mine will be gone soon at around 20,000 miles, all four, I'm not running mismatched tires.

 

I've noticed that my all season Conti's are wearing faster on the rears than on the fronts. I've got almost 15000 miles on them. Is that normal? And, no - I don't spin them! Do you guys recommend rotation, or is it just an added expense during the 2nd maintenence checkup.

 

I got about 25,000 miles out of the Contis. Every other tire I have put on since lasts about 12,000 miles or so. I have put on the Conti DWS on the front . They performed great at the Dragon and I hope I can get some decent mileage out them.

 

My rears are wearing faster than the fronts, the wear is even across the tire so I have not rotated them side to side. I have not rotated the fronts either for the same reason.
You do not have to noticeably spin the tires to induce wear, a little slip on acceleration will do it as will hard cornering, this isn't your regular family car after all.

 

Trust me, the rears will be replaced when the wear bars are even with the tread. I can't remember the last time I drove her in the rain, so wet traction has not been a problem. I am leaning towards the Hankooks, but want to hear more about them from other drivers. I did air the Contis up to 38 psi (since yesterday was 75 and I expect it to be in the 40-50s next week) and the ride was definintely more harsh. Felt every expansion joint, exactly like my SRT6 (w/o the acceleration, of course).

 

Since you've had such good luck with the brand so far, why not stick with it?

I'm running the Continental DWS tires on all four corners, and I love them. Performed beautifully at the dragon, and they are whisper-quiet.

50,000 mile warranty on these guys... so if you kill 'em sooner, they pro-rate the difference towards a new set.

 

I will price a set of Conti summer tires as replacements, as well as Hankooks. Price and mileage guarantee may drive the decision. I have Conti Extreme Contacs on my A6 and they are a very nice tire. Not sure how many miles they will last (over 15k so far), but the A6 is a much heavier car and quattro puts additional stress on the rubber.

 

This is not a joke.... I had 45K miles on my original Contis. And I live in south Texas... VERY HOT!

The front wore faster. I would have gotten more miles out of them except one of my front tires split the tread and forced me to replace them. Fronts were pretty much shot. The backs still had a little life in them but I decided to get all new 4 tires rather than wait. I got a new set of Contis (I think they are called touring) for less than a grand. So far so good!

 

Had 50,000+ on the rears before I got rid of them. Still had plenty of tread so I kept one for a spare. The other had a sidewall blowout because there was a cut in the tire so I replaced both at the time. Fronts have 51,700 on them and I should easily get another 10,000 out of them.

 

My Conti's developed DRY ROT cracking and had to be replaced at under 10 k miles...Though I am the original owner of the 2005 CF, I bought it in 2007 with only 200 miles on odometer; apparently sitting around dealers lots ruined the tires. I replaced Conti's with Hankooks and the whole ride has improved greatly. Though disappointed to have to replace what looked like plenty-of-tread-left-Conti's, the new tires are a great improvement.