Continental Supplies GRAND-AM 2012 Races with its Tires
The new season of Grand-AM 2012 races began with one of the most complicated races, the “Rolex 24,” that were held in Dayton. This year the race celebrated its 50th anniversary and took place on January, 26-29 on a world-known Dayton International Speedway. The competitions gathered more than 100 participants and were supplied with Continental tires.
The “Rolex 24” in Dayton is the most prestigious race in the USA, being one of the two 24-hour competitions for sporty vehicles. The event opens the new year of the international auto sport calendar as well as GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and is attended by the most famous pilots from all over the world.
Being an official tire provider for the Grand-AM, the Continental company supplied the 50th Rolex 24 race in Dayton with 12,000 tires. Moreover, there was a support team from the tire maker that included 85 people to maintain the race. The specialists dealt with more than 200 tires per hour, mounting racing slicks or standard tire depending on weather conditions.
Travis Roffler, Continental marketing manager, stated that the company is proud of being an official provider for The Grand-Am race as well as the main sponsor of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. Continental is glad to support such an important event for all the racing fans and enjoys their status at the “Rolex 24” race.
Continental Tires Recommended By Leading European Car Makers
Continental tires are acknowledged by numerous automotive manufacturers from Europe and recommended for use as Original Equipment as well as for sale on a replacement tire market. It was approved by AMG-Mercedes, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen and so on.
Car makers have tested winter as well as summer tires from Continental, with greatest attention being paid to ContiWinterContact TS 830 P and ContiSportContact 5 models. Both tires are equipped with SSR RunFlat technology that helps instantly seal punctures in the tread. There’s a guarding layer on the inside that can “cure” punctures up to 5 mm in diameter i.e. the majority of them. The technology works even if a sharp object is pulled from the tire. As a result, you needn’t replace the tire at once and can go on driving for some time, which enhances your mobility on the road.
David O’Donnell, the head of Continental research and development department for passenger and light truck tires, says that the company is very glad to get such good response from European leading automotive manufacturers as it proves its high achievement level in this field. It adds that nowadays nearly 30 per cent of new cars in Europe are equipped with Continental tires. It proves the fact that the company is a most reliable tire maker in the area.
Continental Continues Its Partnership with Audi Quattro Camp
Since December 1, 2011 Audi has been conducting its new Quattro Experience program, in frames of which any one can test new all-wheel drive vehicles including Audi Q3 compact SUV, Audi A6 business sedan and a revised Audi A5 coup.
The cars are tested on unique tracks equipped with various obstacles like 30, 40 and 50-per cent slopes, lateral turns with the change of driving direction, asymmetrical irregularities, Ice Track surface and so on, which makes the customers learn reliable and safe Continental tires by their own experience. It is Continental ContilceContact tire that is used for the Quatto Camp tutorial.
The tire features enhanced traction and handling and reduces the vehicle’s braking distance thanks to differently-patterned outer and inner tread areas. The inner tread is cut with three-dimensional stepped grooves while the outer tread has the same grooves but with a wavy design. Moreover, an asymmetrical tread picture provides for even tread wear, which prolongs mileage.
The ConticleContact tire also benefits from Continental Brilliant Plus technology, which presupposes durable sipe mounting. As a result, the sipes excellently cut into ice and snow to ensure reliable grip during speeding up and braking as well as predicable handling in general. The sipes themselves feature maximum length of tractive facets.
This year Continental continues its partnership with Auto Quattro school and hopes that their collaboration will be as pleasant and fruitful as it was before and will contribute to driver and passenger safety on the road.
Continental Continues to Supply European Car Makes with Original Equipment Tires
This year Continental has entered several contracts with European automotive manufacturers and is going to supply them with original equipment tires for their new cars. The fact has again proven the company’s leading position in this segment.
European car makers will equip their new vehicles with both summer and winter tires, which speaks for the high quality of Continental tires as well as the company’s versatility. Moreover, some cars will be equipped with Run-Flat tires, the ones featuring extended mobility in case of complete pressure loss.
The greatest popularity was won by the Continental ContiWinterContact TS 830 P that became a leader among winter tires while the most popular summer tire appeared the Continental ContiSportContact 5. This year the company equips such cars as Mercedes AMG С63 and GL, Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes CLS, B-Klasse, Viano and Vito, as well as Volkswagen Up and BMW 1- and 3-Series.
David O’Donnell, head of Continental passenger tire development department, states the company is glad that leading European car makers choose their tires for the newest vehicles. It helps the company firmly hold top position in the Old World. Now more than thirty per cent of new cars in Europe come with Continental tires mounted on them.
