Press Release
Safely through the winter: current Continental portfolio offers full line of passenger car and SUV tires
 Winter tires with Central European compound for Central European driving conditions
 The latest products from the Continental, Uniroyal and Semperit brands at a glance
Hanover, Germany/ Schladming, Austria, February 2016. Tire manufacturer Continental has
one of the most extensive winter tire ranges in the market with brands and products to meet
almost any need. Winter tires from the premium Continental brand make for safe driving in
even the most unfavorable road conditions, while the latest products from other Group
brands offer a special focus on wet weather (Uniroyal) or snow (Semperit) driving
characteristics. The current portfolios of these three brands alone offer a prime selection of
tire options for the various applications and vehicles.
Winter tires for Central Europe
With the WinterContact TS 860, this year Continental is launching a new winter specialist for
compact and mid-range models. On the safety front in particular, the new tire brings real
progress: Under braking on wet wintry roads it performs five percent better than even its
outstanding predecessor, the ContiWinterContact TS 850. Braking distances are four percent
shorter on ice and there are improvements in snow handling, grip on snow and ride quality as
well. Mileage and rolling resistance remain at the same commendable levels as with the
ContiWinterContact TS 850. Designed for use in Central and Western Europe, this premium
winter tire will be available from tire dealers in the coming fall. Initially there will be 36 models
in 21 sizes for 14-17-inch rims, with a minimum of 20 more models slated to join the range in
2017. On the EU Tire Label the new Continental winter tire scores a C rating for rolling
resistance and a B rating for wet grip. When it goes on sale, this winter tire for compact and
mid-range models will gradually replace the exceptionally successful ContiWinterContact TS
850 which, over the past four years, has proved best-in-test in no fewer than 47 comparative
tests by the European trade press, automobile clubs and consumer organizations. That
makes it the most successful Continental winter tire to date.
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is the version for mid-range and luxury models, as
well as for sports cars. With this tire the development engineers at the leading winter tire
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manufacturer have achieved a further marked improvement in performance characteristics.
For example, the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P delivers a tangible improvement over
its predecessor both in its handling on snow and dry roads and in its braking performance.
This is due not least to the asymmetrical tread design of this winter tire. One new arrival this
winter is a special version for all-wheel drive vehicles, which bears the letters "SUV" on the
sidewall alongside the customary product designation. Both models are manufactured for 16to 20-inch rims.
With the ContiWinterContact TS 830 P, the tire manufacturer is targeting the owners of highperformance vehicles who want to do their winter driving on tires approved by the appropriate
premium manufacturer. This winter tire from Continental has received numerous approvals
from vehicle manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and
Porsche. These winter tires are tailored precisely to the design of each model, thus serving up
a perfect combination of driving pleasure, safety and economy.
Snow professionals from Semperit
The Master-Grip 2 from Semperit delivers even more safety on snow-covered roads for cars
with 13 to 15 inch rims. With its extremely high sipe density and its wide grooves between
the shoulder blocks, it offers a very large number of edges for maximum grip on ice and
snow. Due to a balanced contact patch of tread blocks, the tire counteracts the microaquaplaning which occurs when braking on ice, resulting in shorter braking distances on icy
patches. Precision handling on both wet and dry roads is aided by the compact tread blocks,
while on wet roads the water is easily laterally dispersed by the wide tread grooves.
The Speed-Grip 2 for executive and luxury class cars and SUVs delivers an impressive
performance on snow and good aquaplaning characteristics. This tire’s excellent braking
performance on ice and snow deserves special mention. This is mainly due to the innovative
distribution of labor between tread center and shoulder, combined with a large number of
edges, leading to better interlocking with the snow-covered road surface and thus better grip.
The Speed-Grip 2’s three-phase high-performance compound is another technical highlight.
This raises the bar in terms of reconciling the conflicting objectives of delivering grip both on
snow-covered roads and in the dry. The versatile rubber compound remains flexible at low
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temperatures and stiffens up as temperatures rise. The reduced rolling resistance also
enables a drop in fuel consumption.
Winter rain tires from Uniroyal – the best option in wet winter weather
In many parts of Europe, winter roads will more likely be wet than snow-covered. Good
reason, then, for choosing a winter tire that offers a high level of protection against
aquaplaning and good grip in the wet. That is where the MS plus 77 from Uniroyal – the rain
tire brand – comes in. With its multiple innovative technical properties, this winter specialist
for cars and SUVs offers a high level of active safety in cold, wet conditions and on snow and
ice. This winter all-rounder is available in 82 sizes with speed ratings for between 190 and
240 km/h. That includes multiple sizes for 13-18 inch rims and with aspect ratios of between
80 and 40 percent. Other sizes for SUVs fit 16-18 inch rims, with aspect ratios from 70 to 55
percent.
Dispersing the water from under the contact patch is the supreme challenge for any rain tire.
At 80 km/h, the MS plus 77 displaces around 25 liters of water per second – enough to fill a
normal bathtub in just six seconds. Thanks to this rapid water displacement capability, the
risk of aquaplaning is reduced substantially. The tire is helped here by Uniroyal’s typical
steep V-shaped tread pattern that aids the water dispersion process to great effect. The
sloping V-shape and the wide open grooves accelerate the flow of water away from the
contact patch. Added safety is provided by the large, stiff shoulder blocks that make for
precision handling on wet roads, which is particularly important when the driver needs to take
rapid evasive action. The advanced silica compound specially developed for this rain tire
delivers added grip and supports good interlocking with cold, wet roads. A carefully designed
sipe system with a large number of small, stepped incisions in the blocks provides the edges
that provide strong grip on snow and ice.
Continental AG
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable
partner, the international tire manufacturer, automotive supplier, and industrial partner provides
sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated
preliminary sales of approximately €39.2 billion with its five divisions, Tire, Chassis & Safety, Interior,
Powertrain, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs approximately 208,000 people in 53 countries.
www.continental-corporation.de
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Tire Division
The Tire Division currently has 24 production and development locations worldwide. The broad product
range and continuous investments in R&D make a major contribution to cost-effective and ecologically
efficient mobility. As one of the world's leading tire manufacturers with more than 47,000 employees, the
Tire Division achieved sales of €9.8 billion in 2014.
Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental is one of the leading manufacturers of passenger and light truck tires in Europe and the
world's fourth largest passenger tire manufacturer in the original equipment and replacement market.
The product development focus of the Continental premium brand is to optimize all safety-relevant
characteristics, while simultaneously minimizing rolling resistance.
www.continental-reifen.de
Media Database
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Contact:
Alexander Bahlmann
Head of Communications and PR, Passenger and Light
Truck Tires
Continental AG
Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 511 938 2615
Fax:
+49 (0) 511 938 2455
alexander.bahlmann@conti.de
www.continental-reifen.de
Klaus Engelhart
Press Spokesman, Passenger and Light Truck/TwoWheel Tires, Germany, Austria & Switzerland
Communications and PR, Passenger and Light Truck
Tires
Continental AG
Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 511 938 2285
Fax:
+49 (0) 511 938 2455
klaus.engelhart@conti.de