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Last updated 7/19/2024 - Originally published 6/05/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Bridgestone and Continental are the two globally dominating tire manufacturers and have a long history. While Bridgestone was established in 1931 in Japan, Continental was founded in 1871 in Germany. Their Ecopia tires and TrueContact tires are the two great all-season tires these manufacturers offer for outstanding year-round performance.
Both Bridgestone and Continental leave no stone unturned in incorporating advanced technologies, features, and cutting-edge designs that positively impact the ride and performance, and that’s also visible in the Ecopia EP422 tires and the TrueContact Tour tires. Both tires fall in the all-season category and can perform in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions.
But, as a tire buyer, you should know which of these two tires you should buy for your vehicle. So, let’s find it out in this Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus vs Continental TrueContact Tour tires comparison, evaluating on the basis of SimpleScore and other important factors like traction, handling, longevity, price, vehicle compatibility, and more.
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus tires
Launched on March 31, 2015, the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus is an all-season touring tire that has a symmetrical tread design and is built for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans, catering to a large number of vehicles on the market. This tire is designed and built to boost fuel efficiency, ride comfort, and provide a noise-free driving experience. It also has features that help increase traction performance and tread life.
Overall, the Ecopia EP422 Plus gets an excellent 9.3 SimpleScore rating on a scale of 10; thanks to its outstanding traction performance, excellent tread life, and superior handling response.
Continental TrueContact Tour tires
Suitable for use on passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, and SUVs, the Continental TrueContact Tour is an all-season touring tire that made its debut on June 1, 2018. The tire boasts a symmetrical tread pattern and is engineered to offer an optimal balance between performance and longevity. Additionally, Continental has equipped this tire with features and technologies to improve fuel efficiency, reduce braking distance in wet conditions, lower road noise levels, and provide dependable year-round traction.
Overall, the TrueContact scores a great 8.9 SimpleScore rating because of its excellent tread life, better traction performance, and confident handling response.
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus vs Continental TrueContact Tour tires on traction
All-season tires are built for year-round use, in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, and therefore, traction plays an important role. While analyzing these two touring all-season tires, we found that there was a big gap between their scores. So, let’s find out in detail how these two tires differ in their scores and capabilities.
Commencing with the Ecopia EP422 Plus, the tire scores an exceptional 9.4 SimpleScore rating in traction. It features wide circumferential grooves that force water out of the footprint for increased grip and traction in wet conditions, while the detailed sipes on shoulder blocks and center ribs provide additional grip on wet and snowy roads. In addition, the optimized contact patch and all-season tread compound also boost the tire’s ability to grip and hold the surface and offer better traction performance year-round.
On the other hand, the TrueContact Tour boasts an 8.7 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction, assuring the drivers that the tire can perform well in dry, wet, and light snowy roads. The advanced symmetrical tread design of this touring all-season tire features detailed sipes that help reduce the braking distance on wet roads. The three circumferential grooves on the tread evacuate water from the contact patch area for increased traction on wet roads, while the detailed sipes on the shoulder and center ribs extend the tire’s ability to bite the surface for superior grip in wet and light snow conditions. Likewise, the edges on the shoulders also contribute to additional traction performance on dry roads.
No doubt, both the tires come with world-class technologies and perform very well in the traction area, it is the Ecopia EP422 Plus that has a competitive edge over the TrueContact Tour.
ADVANTAGE: Ecopia EP422 Plus
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus vs Continental TrueContact Tour tires on handling
To drive with greater control and offer a confident steering command, an all-season tire must be good on the handling part. When we analyzed the handling scores of both tires, we found there was a significant difference in their scores.
Starting with the Ecopia EP422 Plus, the tire scored an outstanding 9.2 SimpleScore rating in handling, ensuring superior control, stability, and steering command. The innovative tread compound of the EP422 Plus offers quieter and comfortable rides, and also provides a solid grip to hold the surface and maintain surefootedness while cruising on the roads. The shoulder blocks and the sidewall of the tire are sturdy enough to keep the tire in shape and offer excellent maneuverability, lane-changing ability, and cornering performance. Additionally, the circumferential grooves of the tire also aid in better handling performance on wet roads by preventing the risk of hydroplaning.
On the contrary, the TrueContact Tour achieves a score of 8.6 in handling, which is on the great side. All thanks to the innovative tread pattern that allows the tire to stop in time and provide greater control to the drivers. The tread profile of the TrueContact Tour is featured with detailed elements that support excellent wet braking and handling performance. The deeper grooves and shoulder edges provide that extra holding ability to the tire to firmly grip even the light snowy roads for confident driving. Likewise, the wider footprint helps in improved steering response and great cornering ability. The dual center ribs of the TrueContact Tour’s tread also help in seamless lane-changing and sharp handling performance.
While both tires are exceptional when it comes to handling, it’s the Ecopia EP422 Plus that’s ahead in the race by scoring a better SimpleScore in handling than the TrueContact Tour.
ADVANTAGE: Ecopia EP422 Plus.
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus vs Continental TrueContact Tour tires on longevity
Touring tires should not only be good at traction and handling but also offer long-lasting tread life, as they are often bought by tire buyers because of their extended usability. There was an interesting flip in the longevity area, and we found that both the tires were almost equally good with a very marginal difference in their scores.
The Ecopia EP422 Plus got a 9.4 SimpleScore rating in longevity, which means the tire offers an excellent tread life. Its optimized contact footprint evenly distributes weight across the profile for even and longer wear. Bridgestone offers a whopping 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on the purchase of this touring all-season tire, assuring the buyers that the tires are built and engineered for prolonged use and can cover extra miles. Even the inner construction and the rubber compound of the tire are sturdy enough to reduce the wear rate for extended service.
Contrarily, the TrueContact scored a better 9.5 SimpleScore in longevity, ensuring the tire will serve longer than its peer. The icing on the cake is that this all-season tire is covered by a better 80,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which is 10,000 miles more than the mileage warranty offered by its competitor. It is built using EcoPlus Technology, which not only saves fuel by reducing rolling resistance but also extends the tire life of the tire. The QuickView Indicators are also a great feature of this tire as they allow you to visually inspect how much tread is left in the tire. Likewise, the tire also gets a strong inner build to allow it to hold its shape for an even wear.
On the longevity front, there was a surprise as the Continental tires were better than the Bridgestone tires.
ADVANTAGE: TrueContact Tour
When to use each
Both all-season tires, the Ecopia EP422 Plus and the TrueContact Tour can be used in dry, wet, and light winter conditions. However, they aren’t Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, and therefore, shouldn’t be used in moderate to severe winter weather.
While the Ecopia tires are made for use on coupes, sedans, minivans, CUVs, and SUVs that have rims measuring between 15- to 17-inch, the TrueContact Tour can be used on passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, and smaller SUVs that have rims measured between 15- to 19-inch.
Which one should you choose?
So, which tire should you choose – the Ecopia EP422 Plus or the TrueContact Tour? Let’s talk about it.
When we compared the SimpleScore of both tires, we found that the Ecopia EP422 Plus was ahead with an overall 9.3 SimpleScore, compared to the TrueContact Tour’s overall 8.9 SimpleScore. But, both tires have their strengths and they must be considered while making the purchase. You must take into consideration each tire’s performance on fronts like longevity, traction, handling, and price, along with their innovative features.
When it comes to price, the Ecopia EP422 Plus will cost you at a starting price of at least $162.99 per tire, while the TrueContact Tour is available at a starting price of at least $122.99 per tire. That means a set of four Bridgestone tires will cost you at least $651.96, while a set of four Continental tires will cost you at least $491.96.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Ecopia EP422 Plus if you:
- Drive a luxury CUV like the Lexus RX450h, a mid-size sedan like the Toyota Camry, a mid-size 2-row SUV like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, or a two-door coupe like the BMW 650i Gran Coupe.
- Need a tire that offers excellent traction performance (9.4 vs 8.7 in traction).
- Need a tire that’s outstanding on the handling front (9.2 vs 8.6 in handling).
- Are comfortable paying more to buy a tire that’s overall an excellent performer.
Contrarily, you should consider the TrueContact Tour if you:
- Drive a CUV like the Volkswagen Tiguan, a minivan like the Toyota Sienna, a subcompact SUV like the Subaru Crosstrek, or a mid-size executive sedan like the Lexus ES300h.
- Want a tire that has a better tread life (9.5 vs 9.4 in longevity).
- Need a tire that offers better tread life warranty coverage (80,000 miles vs 70,000 miles tread life warranty)
- Need a tire that’s premium but is offered at a comparatively more affordable price.
At first look, the Ecopia EP422 Plus vs TrueContact Tour tires might not look like a comparison, but when you look at their performance in different areas, and learn more about their capabilities, features, and pricing, both tires look like the two very close competitors. But, while buying tires, your choice will largely depend on the type of vehicle you have, how and where you drive, your budget preference, and your opinions and choices over traction, handling, and longevity.
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.