Continental tyres - America vs Aussie

[Pickles]

Hi, probably should post this in the wheel and tyre section but given that I am looking for tyres for a Tiguan I thought I would post it here.
I was wondering what peoples thoughts were when comparing tyres available in the US vs tyres available here in OZ.

I am after a set of 255/40/19
I have traditionally been a Continental fan.
My local dealer has recommended Continental ContiCrossContact UHP due to the Tiguan being a suv
quoted at $540 per tyre, so looking at $2160 all up.

Like many others I have thought about going down the tirerack path
So the problem then is that tirerack sell continental but don't sell ContiCrossContact.

Ideally due to customs duty and taxes it would be nice to stay under A$1000
Tirerack have quoted me a set of Continental ExtremeContact DW for $1329 delivered to OZ. Ex freight would just fall under the customs tax limits etc, so after fitting lets say A$1400.

So my question is this.
As I can't compare apples with apples. If i was the get the ExtremeContact DW at $1400 vs $2160 for the ContiCrossContact.
Am I buying a sub standard tyre. In other words is there any reason why either tyre isn't available in the others respective market.

What do you guys think ?

[99_FGT]

Shop around - I got quoted about that for the 225/40 R18 CSC3's, and ended up paying $1176 F&B for all 4...
Al..

[Big_M]

That sounds like a good deal you got there. Was that recent ?

[Pickles]

Thanks 99_FGT,

Agreed to shop around, but I am looking at 255 in 19" and all my research shows that the price here in OZ seems to be around that $2000 mark no matter where I look for that size.

[Diesel_vert]

I wouldn't think there'd be much difference in inherent build quality, whether it be aimed at the North American market (ExtremeContact series) or the European market (SportContact series), but who knows?

In regards to performance, the ExtremeContact DW is a summer performance tyre with no consideration given to off-road capabilities. Not that the on-road biased CrossContact UHP would be noticeably superior off-road, and not that you'll be going off-road on 19-inch wheels with low-profile tyres anyway.

IMO, I don't see value in paying 50% more for the CrossContacts.

[brad]

What Diesel Vert said.

Quality will be the same.

USD242 each doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room for the $1000 limit as you won't get parity on the forex but you should come in at AUD996 plus ~AUD 20-30 transfer fee.

How often do you drive on dirt/grass/mud/clay? If you are on bitumen 99% of the time then the ExtremeContact will be an improvement.

About the only

[HaywireTig]

I got my Continental ExtremeContact DW in 255/40ZR19 from TireRack and arrived earlier this week. See:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=62390

Handles well, no shaking at all, tested it on highway yesterday between 80-140kmph, did some spirited turns ard bends and round abouts and they handled great. Haven't tested them in the wet yet.

[HaywireTig]

Oh... They are pretty quiet too in comparison w the stock Bridgestone Duellers in 16's.