Public Relations Tires
Press Release
Further specialisation in the winter tire range:
New winter tire generation from Continental is
tailored to suit vehicle concepts
Hanover, October 2004. Winter tires have long since
ceased to be all-rounders and are now tailored to suit
specific vehicle concepts. Europe's market leader for
winter tires Continental has alone three tire lines for cars in
its range, approved for speeds up to 270 km/h (168 mph).
This means there are a variety of options available for
switching to winter tires, depending on the vehicle size,
type of suspension and engine size. Motorists in Germany
are responding to this wide choice available by switching
to winter tires in increasing numbers. According to
Continental's estimations, this year for the first time more
than half the cars on the roads in Germany will be fitted
with safe dedicated winter tires. For this purpose
Continental has two new winter tire lines available - the
ContiWinterContact TS 810 and ContiWinterContact 810
Sport - which are tailored precisely to suit medium range
and luxury vehicles, as well as sports cars.
The proportion of high-speed tires on the roads in Germany
continues to grow, with over a third of all cars nowadays
requiring tires able to handle speeds of 240 km/h (150 mph)
and more. According to the tire experts at Continental, highspeed summer tires are ideal for the warm season. As the
temperature drops, they substantially lose their ability to build
up grip. As a result, the need for winter tires continues to grow.
Continental
Aktiengesellschaft
Public Relations
Tires
Büttnerstraße 25
30165 Hanover
Postfach 1 69
30001 Hanover
Phone: +49 (0)511-938-2285
Fax:
+49 (0)511-938-2455
www.conti-online.com
presseabteilung@conti.de
Public Relations Tires
Press Release
Ever greater specialisation in vehicle and tire concepts
More powerful car engines, combined with suspension design,
safety and comfort aspects, all mean that tire types and sizes
have had to change to suit requirements. This is particularly
noticeable on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, for example. When
production of the 190 Series (W201) began in 1982, there were
three tire options in 14" and 15" sizes, approved for speeds
between 190 and 210 km/h (118-131 mph). The next model, the
first C-Class (W202), was available with five different tire and
rim combinations between 15" and 17"; in some cases the front
and rear axles were fitted with different tire sizes. Here the tires
were approved for speeds between 190 km/h (118 mph) and
over 240 km/h (ZR-rated / over 150 mph). On the current CClass (W203), seven tire sizes between 15" and 18" diameter
can be fitted, approved for speeds between 210 km/h and 300
km/h (131 - 187.5 mph). The demands made on these tires
vary, depending on the type of suspension (saloon, estate or
sports) and the engine size. This is why Continental supplies
Mercedes with the more comfort-orientated
ContiPremiumContact as well as the sports tire
ContiSportContact 2 as Original Equipment for this model.
Demand for winter tires is ever more specialised
The varying demands placed on the vehicle concepts do not
exclude winter tires, which is why Continental produces three
different tire lines developed for use on cars. For 4x4s, MPVs
and light vans, other product lines are available. Continental's
winter tire range features over 250 different sizes. The investment in development is worth it though - last winter in Europe
alone over 44 million winter tires were sold, with the experts
anticipating sales of over 45 million this season. Sound forecasts expect the demand to come close to 50 million by 2008.
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Public Relations Tires
Press Release
Sporty winter tires are becoming increasingly relevant
The main growth is expected to be in the market shares of highspeed winter tires approved for speeds between 210 and 270
km/h (131 - 168 mph). Currently this type of tire - like the
ContiWinterContact TS 810 Sport - accounts for around 19 per
cent of the market share. This share is expected to rise to 26%
in the next five years, according to today's forecasts. A quarter
of these tires will presumably be approved for speeds between
240 and 270 km/h (150 - 168 mph).
The demand for winter tires with run-flat technology is set
to grow
There is also increasing demand for tires with run-flat
capabilities. Over the next ten years this type of summer tire,
which is fitted mainly to vehicles made by DaimlerChrysler,
Volvo, Audi and Porsche, will be found on around 80% of new
cars. This will in turn mean an increase in the demand for
winter tires with run-flat capabilities. Nine sizes of the new
ContiWinterContact TS 810 and TS 810 Sport from Continental
are available with SSR (Self-Supporting Runflat-Tire) run-flat
technology. These tires can be fitted to a variety of vehicles and
do not require special rims or fitting machines in the tire trade.
Continental's SSR system is by now used by leading vehicle
manufacturers in the Original Equipment sector. If the tire fails,
the rim is supported by the tire's reinforced sidewall and
enables the motorist to continue his journey for up to 80
kilometres at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of tires, brake
systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics and technical
elastomers. Consolidated sales in 2003 amounted to €11.5
billion and employees currently number approximately 73,000
worldwide.
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Public Relations Tires
Press Release
The Tires division is an Official Partner of the 2006 FIFA World
Cup GermanyTM. Further information is available at www.contionline.com and www.ContiFanWorld.com.
Klaus Engelhart
Public Relations Tires
Continental AG
Büttnerstr. 25
D-30165 Hanover
Phone: +49 (0) 511/ 938 2285
Fax:
+49 (0) 511/ 938 2455
eMail: klaus.engelhart@conti.de
Internet: www.conti-online.com
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Lars Döhmann
Public Relations Tires
Continental AG
Büttnerstr. 25
D-30165 Hanover
Phone: +49 (0) 511/ 938 2370
Fax:
+49 (0) 511/ 938 2462
eMail: lars.doehmann@conti.de