The biggest pros:
- Smooth and easy handling on dry roads
- High aquaplaning and skid resistance
- Easy and safe steering, handling and braking on wet surfaces
- Smooth ride
- Low road noise
- High durability
- Acceptable grip with lightly snowed surfaces
- Good fuel economy due to low rolling friction
- Tuned Performance Indicators and Visual Alignment Indicators
Cons:
- Noisy on uneven and bumpy roads
- Not good for high-speed driving and racing
A sports utility vehicle or crossover in the street of a major city is nothing new these days. These cars can handle city environments and various types of countryside terrains and boast high levels of comfort and usability.
On the other hand, they are a little less brilliant in terms of handling and stability because of some center-of-gravity specifics. Driving one on a snowed-up, wet or slippery road can be a challenge. Happily, there is always a solution at hand: all you need to do is choose, buy and install high-quality tires on your vehicle.
There are tons of options in the market, where everyone owner of a SUV or crossover can find what he or she thinks is the best solution to improve comfort, performance, traction, handling, tread life, general safety, etc. It should be noted that all-season touring tires are increasingly popular among this category of drivers. They have proved many times their ability to provide exceptional stability, hydroplane resistance, long tread life and easy handling. Finally, the Continental CrossContact LX25 tire demonstrates attractive price/quality ratios.
Right now, the Continental CrossContact LX25 is almost on a par with the renowned LX20. There are good reasons to believe that the successor is going to showcase its father’s best characteristics plus some new advancements and make crowds of SUV-, crossover- and truck owners happier than ever.
An internal test has helped demonstrate high treadlife potential within the touring category, even though Continental does not have the resources to fully check that information. However, there are grounds to believe that LX20 will excel in this group and it has to be a decent choice.
Also, Continental has taken steps to improve the dynamics and stability on wet, snowy and dry roads by modifying the tread pattern and tread compound. Last, but not least, the company continues its effort to ensure driving comfort.
There are several size options for CrossContact LX25 (from 16 to 22 inches) for small and large crossovers, SUVs and trucks, plus, much to the joy of large SUV and truck owners, one in LT-metric sizes. The latter pretty much extends the range of opportunities to hauling and towing. In fact, these are quite so common focuses of nearly all tire-makers. The review should provide a clear and detailed picture of how CrossContact LX25 handles the competition and if the numerous recommendations and feedback are true to life.
What is so great about the Continental CrossContact LX25 tire?
As Continental has officially claimed, the CrossContact LX25 tire is intended for crossovers (both small and large), SUVs and trucks. It has some new features and characteristics, which have extended its potential. Particularly, the new tire shows wet- and snowed road performance, as well as low noise ad smooth ride. The company, as well as most other ones, relies on QuickView indicators as it tests its products’ performance and usability.
Apart from QuickView, Continental uses EcoPlus+ – a next generation tread compound technology, which strengthens the tire and influences its behavior on wet, dry and snowed-up surfaces. It is important that these characteristics should help reduce fuel consumption and make driving more effective and efficient.
Second, the company aims to achieve a better steering response through the use of a symmetric tread pattern. The new feature also helps to ensure more effective wet braking and traction. Combined, these characteristics contribute to higher general stability.
There are four circumferential grooves, which a kind of suck in water and hinder the hydroplaning effect. However, this does not sound like a novelty for any other brand.
To improve traction on slippery and lightly snowed surfaces, diagonal sipes are used. In combination with Traction Grooves – Continental’s proprietary addition – these enhance general grip and stability. The Traction Grooves take in snow and enhance traction on snow.
Also, the tread pattern includes circumferential ribs, which make driving more comfortable and less noisy. Ride quality is improved with the help of an absorption layer between the tread compound and tire reinforcement (the Comfort Ride Technology).
The internal structure is much the same as that of most other all-season touring tires intended for trucks, SUVs and crossovers: it includes two heavy-duty steel belts supported by a polyester cord body, and a spiral-shaped polyamide reinforcement element. Together, these contribute to a more predictable highway behavior and steering.
Maintenance specifics
This is where Continental takes the lead over many tire brands: it uses a specific set of maintenance indicators – an approach, which makes it different from most other companies. Many experts recognize that Continental has made a leap forward in this area.
The company does not build indicators into the tread pattern. Instead, it uses QuickView indicators, which, in turn, are comprised of Visual Alignment indicators and Tuned Performance Indicators.
The concept lies in imprinting letters D, W and S, which stand for “Dry,” “Wet,” and “Snow,” and their visibility reflects a respective indicator.
These letters become less legible as the tire wears down. If the letter D becomes illegible, it means that the tire is no longer good on dry surfaces. Once the letter W disappears, you should not expect superb traction on wet roads. It is the same with the letter S: if you cannot read it, be ready to change tires in winter.
Many users say that this approach is more helpful in determining tires’ behavior, as it directly indicates a characteristic, in which the tire is no longer a reliable companion.
The Visual Alignment Indicators are placed on the outside and inside shoulders, and they give a very clear picture of how the wheels are aligned.
To top that off, you don’t even need to check the indicators every time you go on a trip: the CrossContact LX25 has a 70,000 mile and 65,000 mile tread warranty for H- & T-Speed and V-Speed models respectively. The warranty reflects the tire’s outstandingly long treadlife.
What is the tire’s slippery road performance?
Generally, drivers talk good about its behavior on slippery tarmac. It is advisable to have a better understanding of some specific characteristics and match one’s expectation to these.
It is really good in terms of touring performance. Most regular drivers note its high responsiveness, highway stability, very good grip, traction and short-breaking characteristics. Generally, it does meet the expectations of those who look for a premium touring tire.
For performance crossovers and SUVs, this seems to be a less attractive option. This tire is far behind the majority of performance tire brands in grip and involvement. There are good reasons to believe that this is simply not the right category for aggressive drivers.
What is the tire’s wet road performance?
Almost all drivers asked about the tire’s performance on wet surfaces leave happy comments about their experience with CrossContact LX25. Everyone notes its superb traction, short braking and safe cornering. They say they feel very confident in rainy weather thanks to the tire’s tread pattern which contributes to enviable hydroplaning resistance.
How does the tire behave on snowy surfaces?
Most all-season tires demonstrate acceptable behavior on snowed-up roads. However, individual expectations make all the difference in the world. It is definitely not a fully-blown winter tire.
It should be noted that the CrossContace LX25 tire does quite so well in temperate winters thanks to its high light snow traction and braking parameters. General handling is good too. These are the reasons why the tire is widely used during winter.
However, it is not categorized as a winter tire and therefore is not intended for use in cold climates. If you live in close to the Polar Circle, you’d better look elsewhere anyway.
What is its off-road performance?
The CrossContact LX25 is not an off-road tire. It can be used in SUVs, crossovers and trucks as an all-season touring tire only.
It does show acceptable behavior on dirty and gravel roads, but not in long trips. These tires do not show very good traction or grip on such roads, to say nothing of mired, waterlogged or rocky terrains. If you drive in such places for too long, the tires will wear down pretty soon.
How comfortable is riding with the Continental CrossContact LX25?
The technologies used in the CrossContact LX25 tire guarantee very smooth and soft highway behavior, which provides maximum comfort for both drivers and passengers. Some people describe their driving/riding experiences as luxurious.
Also, they note exceptional noise suppression and report all but completely silent highway trips. Meanwhile, the tire features an absorption layer, which has been added as part of the Comfort Ride Technology. According to some feedback, it can generate a resonation effect in case you hit a small bump or pothole.
Is the game really worth the candle?
It depends on your individual preferences and expectation. As follows from the above, the CrossContact LX25 tire has a really nice price/quality ratio for those who are looking for a decent touring all-season tire. It is great for SUVs, crossovers and trucks.
The most attractive things about this tire are its durability, traction, grip, wet road performance and treadwear indications. The tire demonstrates high comfort characteristics. It is not the right option for performance drivers, and it cannot be used as a winter tire, especially in harsh climates.
Tire Sizes
16″
215/70 R 16
215/70 R 16
235/70 R 16
17″
225/55 R 17
225/65 R 17
225/65 R 17
235/55 R 17
235/60 R 17
235/65 R 17
245/65 R 17
18″
215/55 R 18
225/55 R 18
225/60 R 18
235/50 R 18
235/55 R 18
235/55 R 18
235/60 R 18
235/60 R 18
235/65 R 18
235/65 R 18
245/60 R 18
245/60 R 18
255/55 R 18
255/65 R 18
265/60 R 18
19″
225/55 R 19
235/50 R 19
235/55 R 19
235/55 R 19
245/55 R 19
255/50 R 19
255/60 R 19
275/55 R 19
20″
235/55 R 20
235/55 R 20
245/50 R 20
265/45 R 20
265/50 R 20
275/45 R 20
275/50 R 20
285/45 R 22