Continental Launches SportContact3

Continental Tyres today announced the launch of the ContiSportContact 3. Featuring an asymmetrical tread pattern designed to enhance the driving characteristics of sports cars, offer shorter braking distances, and extra grip for better handling, this tyre has already obtained approval from Audi. The new Continental range also includes tread pattern options both for high-powered rear wheel drive sports cars and powerful customised vehicles.

The ContiSportContact 3 has been designed for manufacturers and drivers of sports vehicles – high performance tyres approved for speeds of over 150 mph accounted for 12 per cent of tyres across Europe in 2005. Continental anticipates that the proportion of these tyres will increase to 16 per cent by 2009.

According to the company, Continental has improved the driving characteristics of the new ContiSportContact 3 tyre compared with its predecessor, the ContiSportContact 2. Company representatives say that braking distances on both wet and dry roads, rolling resistance and tyre wear have all been reduced by five per cent. Furthermore, the asymmetrical ribbed tread pattern of the new ContiSportContact 3 is said to distribute braking forces more evenly than the predecessor.

The tyre also features a silica compound improving its grip on wet roads. There are even specific treads for rear wheel drive sports cars and customised vehicles. For the high-powered rear wheel drive sports car, a special tread featuring a double rib in the centre separated by a Y-shaped groove, has been designed. This further enhances driving stability both on the straight and during high-speed cornering.

A further tread pattern is available for extremely powerful customised vehicles. Featuring larger tread lugs and even more tread rubber, the tyre provides these high-performance vehicles with maximum grip.

The new ContiSportContact 3 is available now.