Continental launches CrossContact A/T2 all-terrain tyre in Australia

Continental brings the CrossContact A/T2 to Australia

Continental has launched the CrossContact A/T2 in Australia, expanding its all-terrain tyre line with a product it says is aimed at drivers who split time between sealed roads and rough tracks. CarExpert reported the tyre is now available locally in a range of sizes, and that the company says it delivers more off-road capability than its earlier products while still maintaining road comfort and wet and dry behaviour closer to a highway tyre. ⁴

7NEWS reported that the CrossContact A/T2 was developed primarily for the Australian market at the insistence of Continental’s Australian arm. CarExpert also said the tyre’s local launch is backed by development work completed at Continental’s 2000-hectare proving ground in Texas, which the company used for much of the testing and development. ¹⁴

Construction, sizes and claimed performance gains

Continental says all but two sizes of the CrossContact A/T2 use heavy-duty LT construction, which is intended to make the tyre more rigid and robust through stronger belt and ply material, tougher bead cores and reinforced sidewalls. JAX Tyres’ listing describes the tyre as a versatile on-road and off-road all-terrain product and shows a broad size spread that includes 15-inch through 20-inch fitments, with most sizes marked LT. ⁴²

Compared with Continental’s AX6 mild-terrain tyre, the company says the A/T2 has 13 per cent more off-road traction, 10 per cent more mileage, 6 per cent greater tread depth in the centre, 14.9 per cent more tread depth at the outer edge and 33.3 per cent more off-shoulder thickness. 7NEWS added that Continental claims the A/T2 is built for a true 50:50 split between on-road and off-road use, rather than the AX6’s 70:30 balance, and said the company also claims the tyre reaches 95 per cent of the AX6’s fuel efficiency. ⁴¹

7NEWS reported that Continental says the A/T2 uses thicker off-shoulder sidewalls than the AX6 and that, while the tyre is slightly noisier than the AX6, it is still quieter than most other all-terrains on the market. The same report also said the smaller Australian sizes are mostly LT construction, which Continental presented as suitable for large SUVs and 4x4s rather than just commercial applications. ¹

What the tyre is built to do on- and off-road

Continental says the CrossContact A/T2 uses its BlackPaw compound, an open shoulder design and a more rigid tread pattern to help maintain grip across wet, dry and cold conditions while expelling mud, stones and water. JAX Tyres and Tyre Review Australia both described the tyre as using self-cleaning shoulders, high void volume and reinforced sidewalls to improve traction and cut resistance on rough terrain, while still aiming for predictable handling and comfort on sealed roads. ⁴²³

7NEWS’ drive coverage reinforced those claims, saying the tyre was engineered for a 50:50 touring role and that the construction focuses on strength without abandoning day-to-day ride comfort. The report also said Continental’s engineers discussed design priorities such as traction, noise, gravel stone ejection, longevity, comfort, braking and water dispersion during development. ¹

Availability, pricing and offer conditions

CarExpert reported that the CrossContact A/T2 is available in Australia now, while JAX Tyres listed pricing from $349 depending on size. JAX Tyres also said its tyre price includes fitting, balancing, a tubeless valve, a waste tyre management fee, free shipping to the selected store and GST, with standard fitting costs applying to the free tyre at $25. ⁴²

CarExpert said local sizes start from 245/75R16 and run to 275/65R20, while JAX Tyres’ size table includes a wider spread across 16-, 17-, 18- and 20-inch options, plus some 15-inch fitments mentioned in the retailer’s listing. The retailer’s material should be read as a store-specific pricing and fitment offer rather than a manufacturer list price, because Continental’s announcement did not publish a retail price in the material provided. ⁴²