If you drive a BMW 5 Series, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, or an Audi Q5, there’s a reasonable chance you’ve already met the Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus. It’s an original-equipment choice for a long list of premium brands, and that says a lot about what it does well. Automakers selling refined, quiet cars need a tire that won’t undermine that refinement, and they need it to work in rain, cold snaps, and light winter weather without drama.
The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus is Continental‘s premium all-season touring tire for luxury sedans, coupes, crossovers, and SUVs. It focuses on ride comfort, low noise, confident all-weather traction, and exceptional longevity. For owners replacing their factory tires, the question is whether it’s worth buying again. For most drivers of premium vehicles, the answer is yes, and here’s why.
How this review was put together: We have not road-tested the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus. This review is based on Continental’s design information and warranty terms, with sources listed at the end. Price ranges are approximate. Checked on October 22, 2026.
Table of Contents
Why Luxury Automakers Choose It
Few replacement-tire buyers think about why a tire was fitted at the factory, but it’s a useful signal here. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Lexus all use the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus as original equipment on various models. Common factory fitments include 245/45R19 on the BMW 5 Series, 235/55R18 on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and 235/60R18 on the Audi Q5, with sizes extending well beyond those to cover coupes and larger luxury SUVs.
Those automakers choose it for the same qualities most owners want: a quiet cabin, a smooth ride, and all-season traction that doesn’t require a seasonal tire swap in most climates. The lineup spans rim diameters from 16 to 20 inches, so there’s likely a size tailored to your vehicle.
Engineering for Quiet, Comfort, and Efficiency
The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus uses an asymmetric tread. The outer shoulder blocks handle precise steering and cornering, while the inner portion of the tread concentrates on traction and stability. A silica-enhanced compound improves adhesion on both dry and wet pavement, which pays off in shorter stopping distances and more secure cornering.
Comfort gets as much attention as grip. Continental’s comfort construction technology helps the casing absorb impacts and road irregularities, while an optimized tread pattern and sound-absorbing design features reduce the noise that reaches the cabin. The tire also uses a low rolling resistance compound and lightweight construction to reduce the energy needed to keep it moving.
Ride Comfort and Noise: The Main Event
For a luxury touring tire, refinement is the headline act, and this is where the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus shines. The optimized casing and compound absorb road imperfections effectively, keeping vibrations and harshness out of the cabin on highways and city streets alike. Sharp impacts are softened rather than transmitted as jolts, which also helps the car feel more controlled over broken pavement.
Noise levels are notably low. Tread roar stays in the background at highway speeds, so music and conversation remain easy. For long road trips and daily commutes, that quiet, compliant character is exactly what luxury-car owners expect.
Dry and Wet Handling
A comfort-first tire can still be enjoyable to drive, and the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus proves it. On dry roads, rigid tread blocks and an optimized footprint provide precise steering, strong grip, and stable behavior at highway speeds. It holds its composure during sudden lane changes and emergency maneuvers, and braking distances are short. It isn’t a sport tire, but it responds faithfully when the road gets twisty.
Wet-road performance is equally reassuring. Circumferential and lateral grooves channel water away from the contact patch, reducing hydroplaning risk in heavy rain or standing water. Biting edges and the silica compound give strong wet braking, and the tire’s lateral stiffness keeps the car planted during wet cornering. For drivers in rainy regions or busy urban areas, that dependable wet braking is one of the tire’s most valuable traits.
Snow and Ice: Capable for an All-Season
The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus handles light winter conditions better than many touring tires. Its compound stays pliable in cold temperatures, helping the tread conform to the road, and deep grooves and biting edges dig into snow and slush. On packed snow, traction and steering response are confident, and the tire pulls away from a stop smoothly.
On icy patches, it performs well for an all-season tire, with dependable braking and cornering in typical winter driving. Its limits are the usual ones: severe ice and black ice can overwhelm any all-season compound, and a dedicated winter tire will always grip better in those conditions. For drivers who see occasional winter weather and want to avoid a seasonal swap, it’s a sensible choice. For drivers in the Snow Belt, a separate set of winter tires is still the safer plan.
Tread Life, Warranty, and Durability
Longevity is one of the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus’s strongest selling points. Continental backs it with an up to 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, depending on size (checked October 2026). Under Continental’s warranty terms, tires in service for more than 72 months aren’t covered. That’s a long mileage figure for a premium touring tire.
The tire is engineered for uniform wear, which keeps handling and ride quality consistent throughout its life. A reinforced tread compound also improves resistance to cuts and chips from debris and rough road surfaces. As with any tire, regular rotation and alignment checks are the best way to reach the warranted mileage and protect your warranty eligibility.
Fuel Efficiency
Luxury cars aren’t usually bought for fuel economy, but lower running costs are still welcome. The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus uses a low-hysteresis compound, meaning the rubber loses less energy as heat as it flexes against the road. Combined with lightweight materials and an optimized shape, that lowers rolling resistance so the engine does less work to maintain speed.
The benefit is modest per tank but adds up across a tire that can last many years, and it’s a meaningful plus for owners of hybrid and plug-in luxury models.
Pricing and Value
The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus starts at around $120 per tire for a 16-inch fitment, while larger sizes typically cost $150 to $200 per tire. Given the tire’s premium construction and OE pedigree, that’s reasonable pricing within the premium touring segment.
The value case becomes stronger once longevity enters the picture. An up to 80,000-mile warranty spreads the cost across far more miles than many competing touring tires, and fuel savings from lower rolling resistance chip away at the price over time.
Who Should Buy It
The ControlContact Tour A/S Plus makes the most sense for:
- Luxury sedan, coupe, and SUV owners replacing factory tires who want to preserve the vehicle’s quiet, refined character.
- High-mileage commuters and road-trippers who value long tread life and low noise.
- Drivers in mixed climates who face rain regularly and light snow occasionally but don’t want to swap tires seasonally.
It’s less suited to two groups. Performance-driving enthusiasts will want the sharper responses of an ultra-high-performance all-season or summer tire, such as Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. And drivers who regularly face heavy snow or ice should budget for dedicated winter tires.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet, comfortable ride suited to luxury vehicles
- Strong dry grip and precise, stable handling
- Reliable wet braking and hydroplaning resistance
- Capable light-snow traction for an all-season touring tire
- Up to 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty
- Low rolling resistance for improved efficiency
- Original equipment on many BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Lexus models
Cons
- Not a performance tire; enthusiasts will want sharper steering feel
- Severe ice and deep snow exceed its capabilities
- Larger sizes approach $200 per tire
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It’s one of the most refined all-season touring tires available, combining a quiet, comfortable ride with strong wet and dry traction, useful light-snow capability, and an up to 80,000-mile treadwear warranty.
No. It’s capable in light snow and on typical icy patches for an all-season tire, but it isn’t a winter tire. In regions with frequent heavy snow or ice, a dedicated winter tire such as the Continental VikingContact 7 will provide much better traction and safety.
Continental backs it with an up to 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, depending on size. Actual tread life depends on driving habits, vehicle weight, alignment, and rotation frequency.
It’s original equipment on various BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Lexus models and is available for a wide range of luxury sedans, coupes, crossovers, and SUVs in 16- to 20-inch sizes.
No. Continental is a German company with a long history in tire manufacturing and a major presence in the U.S. market.
Prices start around $120 per tire for 16-inch sizes, with larger fitments typically running $150 to $200 per tire.
Final Verdict
The Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus does exactly what a premium touring tire should. It keeps a luxury car quiet and comfortable, handles dry and wet roads with confidence, copes with light winter weather, and lasts a remarkably long time. Its up to 80,000-mile warranty and sensible pricing make it one of the better long-term values in the segment.
If you own a luxury sedan or SUV and want replacement tires that preserve the way the car felt when new, this is an easy recommendation. Enthusiasts chasing sharper handling and drivers facing harsh winters should look at more specialized options, but for everyone else, the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus is hard to beat.
Sources
Specs, warranty terms and prices were checked on October 22, 2026. Prices change often.
- Continental: ControlContact Tour A/S Plus (up to 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, 72-month limit)
Summarize this article with:
Leave a comment