In mid-April, Australia in the southern hemisphere has just entered winter time, and the autumn atmosphere is not yet strong. Continental has unveiled the new seventh-generation family product, the MaxContact MC7, at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney. Over the next two days, I did a full track and road test of the MC7 tyres on the Luddenham Raceway and on the road from Sydney Harbour to Hunter Valley.
Day 1：
At Lutonham Circuit, an hour's drive from central Sydney, the MC7 was fully tested and experienced.
For tires, if you don't compare the test and experience, it is actually difficult for ordinary people to appreciate their advantages and disadvantages. In the same scenario as competing products, it is not only an industry practice to compare and test on the same model, but also to have a deeper understanding and grasp of product characteristics.
The test was divided into four parts: wet handling, dry handling and wet braking, and finally completed 2-3 laps of the track.
Module 1: Wetland Manipulation.
At a steep U-shaped corner of the track, a water sprinkler sprays water continuously to keep the road slippery. By driving two BMW 3 Series models equipped with the MC7 and competitors and driving through corners at a speed of 60 km/h, the difference in the performance of the two tyres after a side slip is noticeable. In the slide, the competitor will oversteer for a moment, and there will be a momentary loss of control until the tyre regains grip. The MC7, on the other hand, maintains good grip and tracking ability after slipping. In contrast, the MC7 is very controllable during the process, giving the driver peace of mind.
This course is a comprehensive reflection of the MC7's technical highlights: 3D cutting pattern design, venturi design and Marco-blocks grip pattern design.
When the vehicle is driving at high speed on a slippery road, a layer of water film will form between the tire and the road surface, and the grip of the tire will be greatly reduced, and it is easy to skid, which is what we usually call the hydroplaning phenomenon. MC7 adopts a 3D cutting design, and the tread grooves in various geometries and positions can cut the water film at multiple angles to ensure effective contact between the tread and the road surface, so as to ensure reliable grip.
The MC7 is also equipped with a drainage device designed based on the principle of the Venturi effect in the trench, and the structure is a narrow channel with a narrow middle and wide sides, so that the flow velocity of the stagnant water flowing through increases and realizes the rapid drainage effect. It can be simply understood as the hose we hold when watering the flowers, and if we pinch it tightly with our hands, the water flow will accelerate and grow farther.
Let's talk about the Marco-blocks grip pattern and self-locking mechanism. When steering, the contact area between the tyre and the ground shifts to the outside, while the outside of the tire is subjected to maximum pressure, and the MC7 focuses on upgrading the outside tread design to keep the tire in more contact area. At the same time, the special grip pattern design can evenly distribute the pressure on the tread, so that the tread will not be overdamaged due to excessive local pressure, which will affect the handling and durability.
The MC7 is also equipped with a self-locking mechanism in the outer groove, which simply means that when the tread is deformed during steering, the self-locking mechanism (the rubber block that prevents the tread from deforming) allows the shoulder to form a whole with the adjacent tread, reducing deformation and improving grip, thereby improving steering stability.
Subject 2: Dry land manipulation.
The project is basically a short race track drive, driving the Nissan 400Z and the BMW 3 Series through continuous high-speed cornering. The main experience is the excellent grip, handling and relatively direct road feedback of the MC7 tires. This is mainly due to the MC7's high-stiffness sports rubber formula and Marco-blocks grip design. The pattern design has been explained earlier and will not be repeated. The high-stiffness rubber formula mainly increases the resistance to tire deformation, and the smaller tread deformation during intense driving can improve grip and make the vehicle more directive, followable and handling.
Subject 3: Wet Brakes.
Driving a BMW 3 with MC7 and competitor tyres, you can accelerate from zero to 80 km/h, brake slippery roads until you stop after passing the braking point, and measure the braking distance with the on-board V-box. Based on the actual average results of our 20 Chinese media, the stopping distance of the MC7 and the competition is 21.99 meters and 23.27 meters respectively, and the MC7 is 1.28 meters shorter than the competition. You must know that braking performance is highly correlated with safety, and 1.28 meters is likely to be the life-saving distance at critical moments. This test item mainly highlights the MC7's good drainage and excellent grip.
The final track lap is of course the most fun part to drive, which fully reflects the MC7's comprehensive performance at high speeds and intense driving. However, the perception of tire characteristics is more realistic and intuitive in three subjects.
Day 2：
The next day was an open-road test drive from Sydney Harbour to the Central Coast to Hunter Valley, where Hunter is actually a surname. This nearly 100-kilometer journey reflects the MC7's better quietness and balance, and the silence benefits from Continental's silent cabin design.
Although it was a tire test trip, the overall feeling was very much like a test drive of a performance car, with subjects, tracks, and long-distance road driving, combined with the pleasing Oceanian scenery on the way, there was a feeling of both life and distance. In front of me is still a group of kangaroos jumping happily, and in a blink of an eye, I saw the tragic situation of a kangaroo killed on the side of the road, and I feel more and more that the safety of driving is very important.
And like Continental MC7, a collection of three martial arts cheats "Movement | Control | Tires with excellent performance are a lot of empowerment for safe driving. Life is like driving, and only a down-to-earth and controllable life is your own life.