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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/16/21 10:50 a.m.
feature_image

Continental has a new 200tw tire on the way aimed at endurance use: AER, WRL, ChampCar, Lemons, SCCA Track Night in America and the like. Meet the ExtremeContact Force.

Sizes for this German-built model will range from 205/50R15 to 345/30R19 with distribution, we’re told, handled by both Tire Rack and Hoosier Tire Distributors. First tires should be available June 1, 2021. …

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Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/16/21 11:28 a.m.

What if I want to put the 205/50-15 or 225/45-15 on my NA Miata? Will that invalidate the warranty? ;)

Weird breakdown. But happy to see more performance tires in the 23" OD size, and I'm looking forward to drive reports!

79rex
79rex Reader
4/16/21 11:29 a.m.

245-15 PLZ

procainestart
procainestart Dork
4/16/21 11:33 a.m.

No 16-inch sizes - in general, has 16 become even less supported than 15 in the perf. tire world? 

dps214
dps214 HalfDork
4/16/21 11:38 a.m.
procainestart said:

No 16-inch sizes - in general, has 16 become even less supported than 15 in the perf. tire world? 

What do you mean "become"? They've never been as well supported as 15s.

NickD
NickD MegaDork
4/16/21 12:22 p.m.
dps214 said:
procainestart said:

No 16-inch sizes - in general, has 16 become even less supported than 15 in the perf. tire world? 

What do you mean "become"? They've never been as well supported as 15s.

Yeah, 16" was always the unloved middle child.

NickD
NickD MegaDork
4/16/21 12:23 p.m.

Also, I'd really like to see the performance numbers on these. The 340tw ECS can put down grip numbers that nearly equal some 200tw tires, so a 200tw Conti ought to be monstrous.

ross2004
ross2004 Reader
4/16/21 12:23 p.m.

Hopeful for two things:  that it's truly aimed at the endurance crowd and not another of the super-200tw autocross tires, and that they make a 245/15 if the first part holds true. 

ProDarwin
ProDarwin MegaDork
4/16/21 12:24 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:

What if I want to put the 205/50-15 or 225/45-15 on my NA Miata?

Then your fitment would be....  atypical.  

obsolete
obsolete GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/16/21 12:25 p.m.

I love all the 200TW options these days.

But, seriously, give us the 16s!

captdownshift (Forum Supporter)
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
4/16/21 12:30 p.m.

In reply to ross2004 :

I suspect that it will have grip levels close to the super autocross rubber within the class and wear better, but won't be resistant to being heat cycled. 

bobzilla
bobzilla MegaDork
4/16/21 12:31 p.m.

Is it me, or are all the 200TW tires starting to look the same?

 

captdownshift (Forum Supporter)
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
4/16/21 12:36 p.m.

In reply to bobzilla :

I mean non DOT slicks always have :shrug: 

Matt B (fs)
Matt B (fs) UltraDork
4/16/21 12:39 p.m.
ross2004 said:

Hopeful for two things:  that it's truly aimed at the endurance crowd and not another of the super-200tw autocross tires, and that they make a 245/15 if the first part holds true. 

This. If we can get through a crapcan endurance event only eating up a couple of sets then it'll likely be shut-up-and-take-my-money.  If it's more like 3-4 sets like the other 200tw tires then I doubt our team will want to increase the cost-per-seat that much (we're cheap Lemons bastards).  I suspect it'll be somewhere in-between.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/16/21 12:49 p.m.

In reply to Matt B (fs) :

Just curious, what tire is your team running now?

CyberEric
CyberEric Dork
4/16/21 1:10 p.m.

In reply to bobzilla :

Not just you, I thought exactly the same thing. All the new ones look like the Bridgestone RE71R. I guess it works.

Rodan
Rodan Dork
4/16/21 1:20 p.m.

225/45-15 is a pretty  common fitment on NA Miatas.  And 245/40-15 is the new 225/45....  Hope to see it added to the list.

As far as looks, IMHO beyond a certain point, technology dictates form as we chase diminishing returns in performance.  Consider how similar many new cars' basic designs look...  

AaronT
AaronT Reader
4/16/21 1:33 p.m.

Designing to optimize against physics is going to result in a convergence of form in most applications. Have you ever seen a raindrop that didn't look like a raindrop? A raindrop can take any shape it wants and it optimizes for getting to the ground as easily as possible. It might be boring for us if everything looks the same, but speed doesn't care about our feelings.

dps214
dps214 HalfDork
4/16/21 1:36 p.m.
NickD said:

Also, I'd really like to see the performance numbers on these. The 340tw ECS can put down grip numbers that nearly equal some 200tw tires, so a 200tw Conti ought to be monstrous.

Maybe with a half inch of standing water on the ground...

These are specifically an endurance tire. Think hankook RS4 - a bit down on grip but last forever. Though considering the price tag they'd better be better in one of those two departments. Either faster for the same wear or same speed and somehow even longer lasting, or some other advantage to justify the ~20% premium.

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/16/21 1:44 p.m.

245 15 please!

 

I want to see these against the rs4 and Cooper rs3r.

 

Which is fastest, and which wears the longest.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/16/21 1:48 p.m.

I'm really curious how these will compare.
I just bought a new set of Rival 1.5 for my autocross car. They're the only 200TW tire we don't have to cool between runs here in FL. 

Since Continental is aiming for the endurance racing market, I'm hoping they'll have good performance for the 200TW class of tires, and still hold up well in the heat. 

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/16/21 1:50 p.m.
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm really curious how these will compare.
I just bought a new set of Rival 1.5 for my autocross car. They're the only 200TW tire we don't have to cool between runs here in FL. 

Since Continental is aiming for the endurance racing market, I'm hoping they'll have good performance for the 200TW class of tires, and still hold up well in the heat. 

My only concern would be the tire cycling out.  The rs4 cycle out well before the tread is gone. 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/16/21 1:54 p.m.
NickD said:
dps214 said:
procainestart said:

No 16-inch sizes - in general, has 16 become even less supported than 15 in the perf. tire world? 

What do you mean "become"? They've never been as well supported as 15s.

Yeah, 16" was always the unloved middle child.

Not always, there was 14".  I deeply recall when most performance tires had some 14" flavors available for GTIs and Miatas and such.  Then they disappeared to the tune of "lol 15 inch".  Now you can hardly find gravel rally tires in 14", let alone gummy 205/55-14s or 185/60-14s...

 

OTOH, I can also remember BF Goodrich selling 235/50-13 street tires.

Will
Will UltraDork
4/16/21 1:55 p.m.

Sure wish wider/taller fitments in 17" were still a thing.

Driven5
Driven5 UltraDork
4/16/21 1:58 p.m.

Too bad they're directional rather than asymmetric.

wvumtnbkr said:

I want to see these against the rs4 and Cooper rs3r.

Which is fastest, and which wears the longest.

...And which falls off the fastest with heat cycles.

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