We tested the WinterContact Si at the nearby Yellowstone Airport, closed for the season and perfect for driving cars at speed and without danger on the hard-packed snowy surface. The temperature ranged from -25 to -14 degrees Celsius.

While we had great fun sliding around in examples of the new Mini Cooper S (you have to keep a ball in a tray on the hood while negotiating a slalom course at speed) and BMW 328i xDrive (trying to master the “Scandinavian Flick” rally manoeuvre), the real testing took place with humble Nissan Altimas. Three tire configurations were presented, the first tired with WinterContact Si’s at the front and new all-seasons at the rear, the second with all-seasons front and rear, and finally, as it should be driven, with WinterContact Si tires front and rear.

Why test this way? Apparently some consumers elect to buy only a pair of winter tires which (if they insist on doing this and are driving a front-wheel drive vehicle) they mistakenly put on the front of their car, often relegating older all-season tires to the rear. The result is a car that has reasonable traction when starting and braking, but abominable handling in corners. In fact, the tendency is to quickly and completely lose traction at the rear, with the result that the car will often rotate 180-degrees or more in sharp corners at very slow speeds (40 km/h).

With me behind the wheel, an on-board computer timed the Altima using this configuration of tires from 0-50 km/h and 50-0 km/h at 6.24 and 3.21 seconds respectively. I also spun out with regularity.

In comparison, our all-season example used new Continental tires front and rear. The result was a car that had poor ability to accelerate from standstill (the tires just couldn’t find grip) and lacklustre stopping ability. In the slalom testing lateral forces, the vehicle felt unsteady, but more balanced than the car wearing winter tires at the front. Progress was slow and cautious.

An on-board computer timed the Altima with all-season tires from 0-50 km/h and 50-0 km/h at 8.04 and 3.86 seconds respectively.

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Finally, our Altima wearing a new set of four WinterContact Si tires was so controllable in the slalom that there was really no contest. The Altima simply didn’t slide at normal in-town speed limits, the tires communicating a palpable grip and bite into the slippery surface when starting, stopping and cornering. The experience was impressive.

An on-board computer timed the Altima with WinterContact Si tires from 0-50 km/h and 50-0 km/h at 5.84 and 2.96 seconds respectively. Note the sub-three second braking time from 50 km/h to standstill, the superior starting traction and, in my experience, the excellent lateral control in comparison to the other two tire configurations. This is where winter tires excel and are so superior to all-season tires.

Unfortunately, due to ambient conditions as the day progressed, we were not able to test the WinterContact Si on ice, where apparently major improvements have been made in ice braking according to Continental. We will have to wait until next winter to road test their performance at icy intersections of the type that troubled the Extreme Winter Contact.

Continental WinterContact Si tires arrive with a comprehensive Total Confidence Plan warranty that includes three years roadside assistance and 12 months road hazard insurance. They will be available later in fall, 2015. Direct competitors are the Michelin X-Ice Xi3, Bridgestone Blizzak and Nokian Hakkapeliitta.

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