Our extensive research tells us that the Continental VikingContact 7 is one of the best winter tires you can buy. It handles rough, icy conditions like a pro, all while giving you a quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride. Not to mention, it has an impressive braking performance that provides the driver with more confidence in winter weather conditions.
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Handling | 40.85 s | +0.88 (2.2%) |
| Ice Braking | 13.69 M | +0.8 (6.21%) |
| Ice Traction | 3.15 s | +0.21 (7.14%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 34.2 M | -0.57 (-1.64%) |
| Wet Handling | 42.05 s | -0.06 (-0.14%) |
| Wet Braking | 38.98 M | -0.53 (-1.34%) |
| Snow Handling | 74.02 s | +1.18 (1.62%) |
| Snow Braking | 11.6 M | +0.66 (6.03%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Resistance | 5.71 kg / t | +0.13 (2.33%) |
| Noise | 75.6 dB | +0.1 (0.13%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Traction | 2.85 s | +0.08 (2.89%) |
| Straight Aqua | 68 Km/H | +7.7 (12.77%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Handling | 65 s | +10.9 (20.15%) |
| Ice Braking | 46 M | +9.6 (26.37%) |
| Ice Traction | 5.1 s | +1.5 (41.67%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 31.8 M | +0.4 (1.27%) |
| Wet Handling | 35.6 s | +0.3 (0.85%) |
| Wet Braking | 33.8 M | -2.1 (-5.85%) |
| Snow Handling | 52.7 s | -0.6 (-1.13%) |
| Snow Braking | 51.1 M | -0.4 (-0.78%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Subj. Noise | 10 Points | +3 (42.86%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Traction | 5.8 s | -0.1 (-1.69%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Handling | 48.82 s | 0 (0%) |
| Ice Braking | 3.06 M | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 29.64 M | 0 (0%) |
| Wet Handling | 44.99 s | 0 (0%) |
| Wet Braking | 38.39 M | 0 (0%) |
| Snow Handling | 72.25 s | 0 (0%) |
| Snow Braking | 11.46 M | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Subj. Noise | 5 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Resistance | 6.05 kg / t | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Aqua | 64.1 Km/H | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Handling | 61 s | +0.8 (1.33%) |
| Ice Braking | 43.2 M | +4.3 (11.05%) |
| Ice Traction | 5.5 s | +1.7 (44.74%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 30.3 M | +0.4 (1.34%) |
| Wet Handling | 34.7 s | -0.2 (-0.57%) |
| Wet Braking | 38.5 M | +5.1 (15.27%) |
| Snow Handling | 48.3 s | -0.5 (-1.02%) |
| Snow Braking | 50.2 M | -0.2 (-0.4%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7 Points | -2 (-22.22%) |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 8 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 9 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 8 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Subj. Noise | 9 Points | +2 (28.57%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Resistance | 2.1 kg / t | -0.9 (-30%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Traction | 5.9 s | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Handling | 51.35 s | -1.29 (-2.45%) |
| Ice Braking | 10.64 M | +1.97 (22.72%) |
| Ice Traction | 5.16 s | +1.02 (24.64%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 43 M | -1.9 (-4.23%) |
| Wet Handling | 45.65 s | +1.53 (3.47%) |
| Wet Braking | 31 M | +2.2 (7.64%) |
| Snow Handling | 85.59 s | +1.84 (2.2%) |
| Snow Braking | 16.7 M | -0.2 (-1.18%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2 Points | 0 (0%) |
| Label | Value | Difference to Test Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Traction | 4.05 s | -0.01 (-0.25%) |
| Straight Aqua | 57 Km/H | -3.3 (-5.47%) |
 Continental VikingContact 7 |  Michelin X-Ice Snow |  Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 |  Yokohama IceGuard iG52c |  Cooper Discoverer True North | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dry Traction | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 0.0 |
| Wet Traction | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 7.9 | 0.0 |
| Noise | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 0.0 |
| comfort | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 0.0 |
| Tread Life | 8.5 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 0.0 |
| Braking | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sharpness | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Durability | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Feel | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Show more |
We’ve taken the time to review and research manufacturer stats and user reviews to bring you the best, most comprehensive review of the Continental VikingContact 7. In this article, you’ll learn about some of this robust winter tire’s best features, its performance, and why it would be a solid choice for your vehicle.
Don’t have time to read everything? Here’s a quick summary of our review as well as pros & cons listed.
We analyzed key features of the tire, including its capabilities in the snow, on ice, and in everyday driving conditions. In particular, we focused on what makes this tire one of the safest options available for winter travel.
Read on to learn more about the Continental VikingContact 7 and what makes it great for winter driving.
Designed for life on wintry roads, the Continental VikingContact 7 is a studless winter tire developed for drivers who want more confidence on winter roads. Specifically, Continental designed this tire with cars and minivans in mind. However,, it’s not a good option for larger SUVs or trucks.
The VikingContact 7 gets its name from the Nordic compound that helps the tire stay flexible while in frigid conditions. Canola oil and silica help keep the tire from slipping on slushy roads. In addition, a specialized groove pattern puts more rubber to the road than standard tires, giving you more control on high-speed roads.
Currently, the VikingContact 7 sits in the 99th percentile of all other studless ice and snow tires on the market. It performs excellently on dry and wet roads and offers drivers comfort while navigating tricky terrain.
The Continental VikingContact 7 replaced the VikingContact 6 in 2018, bringing with it numerous improvements in terms of handling, control, and safety. In particular, the manufacturer focused on improved stability in wet and snowy conditions.
Specifically, the VikingContact 7 includes the following upgrades from the VikingContact 6:
The improvements listed here offer a tire that’s better-suited for all types of driving conditions, which means a more comfortable and confident ride for you and increased safety for you and those around you.
The VikingContact 7 outstrips many of its peers in road tests for winter conditions. Not only do tests show it performs well on snow, slush, and ice, but it’s also proven to have decent performance on wet and dry roads, too.
According to TireRack’s testing, the VikingContact 7 scored 99% versus the best in its category. With a fairly low price point compared to its competitors, that score makes the VikingContact 7 a high-quality tire at an affordable price.
The VikingContact 7 went through a lot of rigorous testing to determine how well it handled wet, dry, snowy, and icy conditions.
Although this tire is meant for the snow, the VikingContact 7 showed impressive hydroplaning resistance and traction on wet roads. However, it scored a bit lower than other tires for braking distance.
The VikingContact 7 tire performed well on dry roads, both in terms of handling and for driving under normal daily conditions. In addition, there’s not much road noise, so you won’t have to worry about that snow-tire rumble you get with other brands.
Tests and user reviews both demonstrate the VikingContact 7 has excellent snow-handling capabilities. There’s little to no spin, and they’re great at handling deeper snow. Compared to other all-season tires, the VikingContact 7’s are a great choice.
On wet roads, the VikingContact 7 struggles a bit when it comes to braking. A 2020 Test World test reports a 38.5-meter braking distance, putting it squarely in the middle of its 12 competitors.
Similarly, it required 30.3 meters of braking distance on dry roads, putting it in 8th place out of 13.
However, the VikingContact 7 shines on winter roads. It scored 4th out of 13 on Test World’s test for braking on icy roads, with a distance of 43.2 meters. And on snow-covered roads, it topped the charts in 1st place, with a braking distance of 50.2 meters.
The VikingContact 7 offers smooth handling in all conditions. Its sharp treads allow it to navigate snow and slush without issue, and various studies report superior handling on ice.
Overall, this is a comfortable set of tires that offers a smooth ride. They run comfortably on dry roads and aren’t terribly noisy, so you won’t have a problem enjoying your ride once you put them on. Based on comparison testing, the VikingContact 7 is quieter than some of its competitors, including the Goodyear Ultragrip.
The VikingContact 7 is reinforced with canola oil, which adds bounce to the tire that lets it flex and resist freezing. Combined with low treadwear, that resistance allows the tires to stand up to multiple winter seasons.
According to our studies, these tires will last through 2-3 seasons before they need to be replaced. In addition, Continental’s warranty will cover them for damage up to 60,000 miles as long as you’ve maintained a strict rotation schedule of 6,000-8,000 miles.
The VikingContact 7 falls at the low end of its category’s price range. However, for the quality and durability of this tire, the price is pretty spot-on.
Based on our research, user reviews, and testing, the VikingContact 7 is a worthwhile tire for winter driving. Users recommend it in nearly every review, and TireRack’s testing gave it some of the highest marks in its category.
However, for wet and dry handling, it came in just below the Bridgestone Blizzak. The VikingContact also fell a few points shy of the Blizzak for snow handling but came out on top for comfort and treadwear.
That said, the 2020 Test Worldstudy placed it above the Blizzak for multiple categories of handling and traction. The Blizzak’s are also slightly more expensive than the VikingContact 7s.
Based on our research, we’ve concluded that the Continental VikingContact 7 is an excellent option for a winter tire for a sedan, crossover, or minivan. Designed for Norwegian winters, this tire holds up well to snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.
Rankings are generated based on of customer reviews & real-life tire tests. We don't accept free products from anyone or any company – we review only products we believe are best for the users. By clicking on products above, we may receive a commission at no cost to you.
