A new advertisement from Continental uses the C8 Corvette Stingray to promote the German tire manufacturer’s products.
This ad features a C8 Corvette Stingray finished in the Long Beach Red Tintcoat exterior color, which was offered for the 2020 model year before it was replaced by Red Mist Tintcoat on the 2021 Corvette. The advertisement shows the vehicle driving on an empty countryside road before showing clips of the mid-engine sports car driving slowly in a town center.
The following voiceover plays as clips of the C8 Corvette Stingray are shown on the screen:
“Our journey at continental has taken us down many roads – and when we first started they weren’t even paved. For more than 150 years we worked hard to earn your trust, from the trail to the racetrack and beyond. The continental mark in all its forms stands for confidence. Confidence you trust.”
C8 Corvette Convertible in Long Beach Red
Strangely, the C8 Corvette Stingray does not come from the factory with Continental brand tires. The mid-engine sports car is equipped with Michelin tires exclusively, including the standard Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 all-season and the optional Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tire. Both of these tires were developed by Michelin specifically for the C8 Corvette Stingray.
The only Continental Tire product that currently fits the original wheel sizes of the C8 Corvette Stingray is the Continental SportContact 6. This set of rubber, which unlike the factory tires is not a run-flat, is described by Continental as an “ultra high-performance tire,” that is “designed to meet the demands of the most powerful and sportiest vehicles.”
While Continental is not the factory tire supplier for the C8 Corvette Stingray, the company partnered with American tuning company Lingenfelter to promote its tuning program for the sports car last fall. Lingenfelter released videos and photos of a tuned C8 Corvette Stingray finished in a Continental Tire livery (above) and wearing a set of the company’s ExtremeContact Sport rubber, which were installed on a set of aftermarket alloy wheels. These tires do not fit the factory wheel sizes for the mid-engine Corvette, so aftermarket wheels would be required to install them.
Check out the Corvette-themed Continental advertisement embedded below.
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Comments
Advertising old people car tires with the right equipment I see…..😉🙂😉
My GMC Acadia came with Michelins. I couldn’t wait to remove them. The girl at Costco recommended me not replacing my new tires using the Michelins. She said they ware out too fast. I called Michelin and was told they were discontinued for that reason. I bought a set of Coopers and couldn’t be happier.
I replaced the OEM Michelin tires on my Equinox after 42,000 miles. Also went to Cooper tires and the Coopers much better in terms of handling and ride characteristics. However, I now have 22,000 miles on the Coopers and they are more than half worn (already down to 5/32’s.) Tread life on them will ultimately be no better than the Michelins, but considering they were 1/3 the price that is fine with me.
I would buy firestone tires any time for all my vehicles.
I had Continentals on my Subaru Outback. Not so good in snow. Changed to Michelin and everything is better. Always used Michelin on my Corvette. Waiting for a set of Pilot Sport 4S ZP for my Audi TT RS to replace the Pirellis. Put Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ on a friend’s car and it’s much better.
Plenty of guys don’t want run flats. Me I love my Michelins , the run flat is very convenient. I don’t blame Continental for using the Vette, she’s a beaut!
Went from OE Michelins on my C-max to Continentals. Wet handling is so improved it’s not dangerous anymore. Saved a bundle of money too.
When I was a boy (1970’s in the UK) everyone knew that Michelins lasted – but they were no good in the rain.
Not Run Flat? No spare tire? No Thank You! I wouldn’t want to be stuck on the side of some old country road (happens to be the area I live in) late at night without a Spare tire and having to wait for AAA, or some other Roadside Assistance for what could be hours!
I had a flat tire on my C6 at 12:00 midnight, I was able to drive home and to a tire store the very next morning. The old Goodyear’s they use to put on Corvette’s were very noisy and did not last long, maybe 15,000 miles. When time came to replace them I went to the Michelin Pilot Sport, much quieter and STILL Run Flat. To each his own though, just my 2 cents!
Run flats = peace of mind. I replace the orig. Goodyears with Firsetone Fire Hawk Wide Ovals after 10 years. What an improvement!!!!
Run-flats are no good if you are more than 50 miles from home, or out in the middle of nowhere, and a tire goes down.
I went little more than 100 miles on my Goodyear Run Flats but wouldn’t chance going over 50 mph. Just sayin.
Choices are good, but let’s not forget that the OEM tires and wheels were designed/chosen to attain certain performance attributes on the track. Run flats are controversial, but they also have a stiffer sidewall to accommodate those high G turns. Just because these “fit” doesn’t make them superior – or even as good.
JRF: The article says they DON’T FIT and just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. So, does it really make sense for GM to use the Corvette in its advertising?
Tom78737 – The article says the Continental Sport Contact 6 tire DO fit, but that the Extreme Contact Sport tires do NOT and require a different set of wheels. So, I stand corrected, I should have said “can be made to fit” instead.
at Ron Fellows Corvette owner school you really get to push the factory Michelins. I am very happy with them, the car never lets go, very confident. I have only been able to get .8 G before I chicken out. Already planning my replacement Michelins for the C8, no complaimts.
Aired my Michelin up and went over 50 , about 15 miles to dealer, no sweat. Tire was replaced.
Tires are like cars. Every company has good and bad often how much you pay and how new the design is how good it is.
Often the replacement tires can perform better but they will not meet mile or noise standards for OE cars set by the government.
Also be aware that many tires are made or owned by other companies. BFG is owned by Michelin. Firestone is owned by Bridgestone, General tire is owned by Continental Cooper, Dunlop in Europe, America and Kelly SpringField, Fulda, Mickey Thompson, Mastercraft are owned by Goodyear. There are more companies owner or made by.
As for flats. Flat tires are rare today. In the past you could count on a couple flats in one long trip. Today you may get one in a decade if you are unlucky. Yes you may get a nail but seldom do they go flat fast. Normally you get where you are going.
The next issue many cars have more than one size tire now and in many like the Corvette where are you going to put the tire you take off. It will not fit in the trunk in many cars anymore. You hav3 a cell phone and flat beds around for a reason if the worst case should happen.
I drive a lot and my last flat was 30 years ago. Other than that I have not used the spare in over 20 plus vehicles I have owned.
One vehicle I had I am glad I never had a flat as if the flat was on the front I had to move a rear tire forward then put the spare on the rear as the spare would not fit over the front brakes.
Does Conti make a dual clutch auto tranny? Could swap out the tires and trans at one appointment!