Continental says drivers shouldn’t put a price on their safety by opting for a budget tyre over better-performing brands.

This advice comes on the back of three tests it conducted at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey. Here it put an AMG C63 model on a wet track and tested a constant radius corner at 24 mph, a slalom at a faster speed, and then an emergency stop from 40 mph.

On Continental SportContact 6 tyres, the Mercedes held a steady course through the bend. The tyres easily handled the agility test through the slalom and pulled up well within the 72 metres recommended by the Highway Code for a car on a slippery surface.

On the budget tyres, however, it spun on the corner. It was also far less stable in the slalom. On the 40 mph stop test, it needed around four car lengths more to come to a halt. 

Mercedes-Benz World offers free demonstrations throughout the year, allowing drivers to try Continental tyres for themselves. Here visitors are allowed to experience the differences between summer, winter and all-season tyres.

Mark Griffiths, Safety Expert at Continental Tyres, said:

“Many drivers question why premium tyres are preferable to budgets. During development, tyres go through a lengthy process to ensure they are suitable for a wide range of vehicles. These processes ensure premium tyres give vehicles optimum performance and safety irrespective of the vehicle size or price.”