Continental TerrainContact A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires

Choosing the right all-terrain tire requires carefully balancing the rugged traction needed for off-road excursions with the stability and quiet comfort essential for daily highway driving. This comparison pits two premium contenders against each other: the Continental TerrainContact A/T and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR.

The Continental TerrainContact A/T is often seen as an on-road focused all-terrain, designed for drivers who prioritize superior road manners, high mileage, and confident wet-weather braking. Continental emphasizes longevity with a strong 60,000 mile warranty and integrates TractionPlus Technology to enhance year-round grip without excessive road noise.

Conversely, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR blends the performance heritage of Pirelli with the demands of light truck durability. It features an aggressive, symmetric tread design and robust shoulder blocks that ensure dependable off-road capability, while the specific rubber compound is optimized for excellent stability and traction on paved surfaces.

The Continental TerrainContact A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion ATR review will delve into how each tire’s unique tread compound and structural engineering dictate its performance—specifically, which provides superior comfort, and which delivers more aggressive traction in challenging, unpaved conditions.

Continental TerrainContact A/T tires

Introduced in 2016, the Continental TerrainContact A/T delivers excellent grip and traction and is designed for SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps travelling mostly on gravel, dirt, and paved surfaces. Engineered with TractionPlus Technology, the Conti’s flat footprint and robust shoulders ensure maximum road contact and stability, which significantly contributes to increasing tire life. Backed by Continental’s Total Confidence Plan, the TerrainContact A/T is covered by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and an advanced rubber compound for a longer tread life. The all-terrain tire is also available with either a black or an outlined white sidewall, depending on the selected size.

The Continental TerrainContact A/T boasts a great overall SimpleScore of 8.8 out of 10, assuring its tremendous performance.

Get Continental TerrainContact A/T tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires

Providing services to the US market for close to two decades, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR is a highly capable all-terrain tire designed for SUVs and light trucks that offers a fine balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Pirelli tire features a robust carcass and a unique rubber compound that ensures excellent resistance to cuts and abrasions while delivering surefooted handling and stability across different surfaces. The Scorpion ATR features a wide, rugged shoulder design for effective cornering and superior traction on loose terrain like gravel and mud. On pavement, it provides good acoustic comfort and reliable grip in wet conditions. It is backed by a great 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Scoring an 8.7 overall SimpleScore, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR promises great all-around performance on paved and unpaved roads.

Get Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Continental TerrainContact A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires on traction

Traction is of great importance for tires that drive on paved and unpaved roads. Both the all-terrain tires, TerrainContact A/T and Scorpion ATR, offer exceptional grip and traction on and off the road.

With a superb 9.1 traction score, the TerrainContact A/T provides comprehensive on- and off-road grip, thanks to its TractionPlus Technology. Through this technology, the Continental tire offers tremendous wet grip, achieved through traction grooves and full depth sipes that ensure confident performance across wet, dry, and light snowy roads. The unique tread design with circumferential grooves helps clear water quickly from the surface and avoid the risk of hydroplaning while boosting wet traction.

The Pirelli tire is up against tough competition here. The Pirelli Scorpion ATR goes a notch higher and scores an incredible 9.3 in traction. With a self-cleaning tread in place, the Pirelli tire keeps mud, dirt, and debris away from the tread for optimum grip and traction on and off the road. The curved circumferential grooves, coupled with wide arc-like center grooves, aid in quick flushing of water for effective grip and traction in light snow and wet conditions.

With a better score, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR wins the traction battle.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Scorpion ATR

Continental TerrainContact A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires on handling

Whether on or off the road, it’s the steering response that keeps you going with confidence in dry, wet, and snowy conditions. The Continental and Pirelli all-terrain tires offer superior control and precise steering response on different surfaces, but who wins? Let’s check it out.

The TerrainContact A/T achieves an excellent handling score of 9.0 due to its flat footprint, which maximizes the rubber's contact with the road. This design ensures confident maneuvering and stable lane switching. Furthermore, the Continental tire's unique tread pattern is engineered to provide composed handling, even on loose and challenging terrains.

The Pirelli Scorpion ATR achieves the same 9.0 handling score thanks to its strong shoulder tread and broad center tread area that puts more rubber on the surface for accurate steering response, improved control, and enhanced stability on paved and unpaved roads. Moreover, the wide contact patch further infuses confidence when driving on highways and changing lanes.

The competition is tough here as both tires score the same; the handling battle ends in a tie.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Continental TerrainContact A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires on longevity

A tire’s chances of making it to the driver’s car are high if it returns a longer service life. Owners prefer tires that last long and provide great value in the long run. The TerrainContact A/T and the Scorpion ATR offer reliable tread life. Let’s analyze their longevity performance.

Securing an 8.4 in longevity, the Continental TerrainContact A/T demonstrates great potential for extended service life. Its wide footprint helps to evenly distribute pressure, minimizing irregular tread wear for better longevity. Supported by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Continental tire is covered by a 60-day trial, 3-year roadside assistance, and 12-month road hazard.

On the other hand, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR also scores an 8.4 in longevity, affirming a longer service life. Thanks to the robust carcass and reinforced sidewall area, the premium all-terrain tire resists cuts, chips, and punctures for improved wear life. The advanced rubber compound limits uneven wear and promotes a longer tread life. It is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

With the same longevity scores, the Continental and Pirelli all-terrain tires are neck and neck in tread life performance.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

When to use each

All-terrain tires are built for versatility, blending confident on-road stability with rugged off-road capability. Merging the off-road capability of mud-terrain tires with the sophistication of highway terrain tires. They feature aggressive treads for strong traction on dirt, gravel, and light snow, while their design ensures a quieter, more stable ride on paved highways than dedicated mud tires.

If you value traction more, consider the Pirelli Scorpion ATR, while the Continental TerrainContact A/T is a great option if you want superb handling and longevity.

Which one should you choose?

In a nutshell, the Pirelli Scorpion ATR wins the battle 1-0 with a win in the traction section. On the other hand, the Continental TerrainContact A/T ties the scores for handling and longevity and offers a better mileage warranty than the Pirelli. However, every tire has its unique attributes, which should be considered before you finalize on one. With the scores of both tires not having much difference, let’s see if the price can tilt the battle in one’s favor.

For the 225/60R17 99H size, the Conti costs $198 per tire, while four tires cost $792. Similarly, the Pirelli costs $211 per tire, while four tires cost $844 (a difference of $52 on four tires).

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Continental TerrainContact A/T if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Sierra 1500
• Want a tire that comes with an optional sidewall design - Outlined White Letter (OWL) and Black Sidewall (BSW)
• Want a longer mileage warranty (60,000 vs 50,000 miles)
• Prefer a tire with a reliable year-round service

Contrarily, you should go for the Pirelli Scorpion ATR if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Land Rover Defender, and Honda Pilot
• Want an all-terrain tire with exceptional grip and traction (9.3 vs 9.1)
• Want a longer mileage warranty (60,000 vs 50,000 miles)

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.