Media database under: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com Issue 06/12 | July 2012 Online version under: https://c-inside.conti.de/ > Reifen ContiTireNews Tires for Passenger Tires for Motorbikes Editor responsible under press law: Continental Corporation Continental Corporation Tires for Bikes Alexander Bahlmann Dr. Christiane Pfeiffer Head of Media & Public Relations PLT Head of Communications CVT Tires Divison Tires Division Tires for Trucks and Buses Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Phone: +49 511 938-2615 Phone: +49 511 938-2683 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Tires for Industry

Authors: Klaus Engelhart, Ildiko Kovacs, Dr. Christiane Pfeiffer, Anna Stuhlmeier, Ute Weiss Reliable Performance at the Limit: Continental Tires for Ultimate Sports Performance

Leading technology for leading athletes Guinness Book of Records entries and Olympic victories Exclusive supplier of tires to the US race series

Shiny chrome race cars, fast motorcycles and powerful The specialist tires weighing just 250 grams are pro- trucks – Continental is widely recognized as a develo- duced by hand in Korbach in the Hesse region of Ger- per of excellent tires for high-horsepower vehicles. The many. Unlike other bicycle tires, these consist of an Tour de France serves as a reminder once again that uncoated tube, the top of which features a fine rib pro- the Corporation also manufactures high-performance file. The most striking feature is the rolling resistance- products for vehicles without a combustion engine, an optimized, extremely narrow contact surface, which is area where it can boast international state-of-the-art able to safely and reliably transfer steering commands technology. The world‘s toughest cycle races regular- and braking forces to the road when cycling downhill ly push participants and materials to their very limits. at speeds of up to 100 km/h. These state-of-the-art Whether cycling downhill at breakneck speed on rain- sports tires made of rubber must therefore withstand soaked winding roads or in sweltering heat climbing internal pressure of up to 12 bar. toward a mountain-top finish above the tree line, the quality of the tires helps decide the winner and run- However, racing bicycle tires from Continental also ners-up when it comes to racing for the yellow jersey. catch people‘s attention beyond the Tour de France. The consequences of a slip-up during time trials are At the Road World Championships, Continental riders just as severe as a fall during the mass sprint at the – Mark Cavendish, Matthew Goss and André Greipel – end of the flat stages. A number of leading teams have took all the podium places. therefore relied for years on the technological expertise of Continental‘s developers – including last year‘s win- ner, Cadel Evans. Issue 06/12 | July 2012 ContiTireNews Page 2

The current world leader in individual time trials is Tony Racing Tires for Motorcycles Sports Tires for Tuned Cars Martin. And he too relies on high-performance products and Race Series from Korbach. The German tire manufacturer can even Four years ago, Continental launched the next stage in boast a current Olympic champion. In summer 2008, Jan the expansion of its racing tire range for motorcycles. There is also a tradition at Continental of developing Frodeno won the triathlon gold medal in Beijing on Con- Since then, the ContiRaceAttack Slick, with speeds of extremely high-performance tires in the ultra-high-per- tinental racing tires. His bike was fitted with Competition up to 270 km/h and which is suitable for ambitious ama- formance segment for the flagships of key sports 22 Pro Limited tires. teur riders and professionals alike, has completed the manufacturers. Development partnerships with leading successful motorcycle racing tire product family. This vehicle tuners such as show that Continental A number of historic outstanding achievements also un- was specially developed for supersport and stock sport also has an excellent reputation in the tuning industry. derline the exceptional performance of the racing tires classes and has a zero-degree steel band at the front The technicians in Hanover developed the world‘s first with the yellow brand logo. For example, last year, Sa- and rear, state-of-the-art Black Chili rubber mixtures and series tire with speeds of up to 360 km/h, the ContiSport- brina Grun raced to a new world record in 12-hour bike continuous compound technology. The ContiRaceAttack Contact Vmax, for this specific group of customers. With racing at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. The 26-year-old cy- also has a special rear wheel contour with the 60 cross- this tire, a 1,000-hp 911 from the leading tuner, cled 372 kilometers in this time. Her bike was fitted with section that, above all, ensures enormous grip and thus 9ff, achieved a top speed certified by TÜV Rheinland of Grand Prix 4000 tires. Christian von Ascheberg holds the even better thrust forward, particularly by extreme ban- 376 km/h back in 2009. record for 24 hours. And he uses Continental tires too. king. The front wheel versions were reshaped and made lighter compared with competitor models in order to fur- ther optimize handling and steering responsiveness.

The top athletes in the spectacular sport that is mountain Last September, at the 24-hour race in Le Mans in France, A number of other records were achieved at the same biking also rely on racing tires from this premium brand. the first thoroughbred racing tire licensed for road use event: For example, the fastest Corvette from Geiger Markus Kaufmann of Team Centurion-Vaude and Robert celebrated its successful debut: The ContiRaceAttack clocked up almost 343 km/h, while the fastest LPG-po- Mennen of Topeak Ergon achieved their current titles of Comp. Endurance. wered vehicle from Hohenester based on an RS 4 German champion and German vice-champion in the achieved 352 km/h – all on the ContiSportContact Vmax. German marathon championships for mountain biking. Issue 06/12 | July 2012 ContiTireNews Page 3

Every year at the tuning show in Essen, selected tuners are invited in their role as co-exhibitors at the motor show to present their latest vehicles at the Continental stand. These include, for example, , AC Schnitzer, Sportservice and TECHART Auto- mobildesign. The thoroughbred ContiForceContact sport event tire was developed in 2011 together with AC Schnitzer and Techart and motoring experts from 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on a 300-hp Artega GT, Continental is going one step further with specially deve- the specialist publication sport auto. This is a semi- with which the Continental team achieved 11th place in loped racing slicks in the USA, where the tire manufac- slick UHP tire with which vehicles such as the Porsche the Eifel endurance test in the large cubic capacity and turer is the exclusive supplier of tires to the GRAND-AM 911 Carrera in the new up to 400-hp 991 series are SP 7 hp category. It took place between the legendary Rolex Sports Car Series.  appropriately equipped. The ContiForceContact made Nordschleife („Northern Loop“) and the Grand Prix race an extremely successful racing debut in 2011 at the track.