ContiSportContact 3 Demonstrates 5-6% Improvements

Available in 17, 18 or 19” with V, W, Y and Z speed ratings, the ContiSportContact 3 range is the latest in Continental’s range of ultra high performance, sporty tyres. The German manufacturer places special emphasis on the technological developments built on the model of the ContiSportContact 2, measuring the improvements through stringent in-house performance testing. The truism that cars in general have increased the power available to the average driver can be applied especially to the UHP segment, so transferring that increased power to the road with the required levels of control requires of top UHP manufacturers commitment to equal technological advances.

The ContiSportContact 3 demonstrates how the tyre developers at Continental have managed to further raise the performance potential of their high-tech product. Compared with its predecessor the ContiSportContact 2, braking distances on both wet and dry roads have been reduced by five per cent each, whilst aquaplaning protection was improved by six per cent. Rolling resistance and tyre wear on the ContiSportContact 3 have each been reduced by five per cent.

Particularly when braking, the asymmetrical ribbed tread pattern of the ContiSportContact 3 is more advantageous than a lugged type. The forces occurring during braking are more evenly distributed and can thus be transmitted more efficiently. The fine sipes have been designed in such a way that the tread elements support each other and distribute the braking forces across the entire tread rib, not just across the edge of the tread rib as was previously the case.

The asymmetrical tread pattern design has enabled the tyre developers to achieve a high level of grip. During cornering, the outer side of the tyre is subjected to maximum forces, the ContiSportContact 3 has a higher proportion of rubber on the outside giving the tyre maximum lateral stiffness. The asymmetric ribs enhance lateral stiffness offering the largest possible contact area with the road. This provides safety when making sharp manoeuvres, gives grip for fast cornering, and ensures additional steering stability at high speeds. The tread ribs are designed to deform minimally, so that the ground contact patch remains constant, even when taking bends at speed.

The silica compound used in this tyre has made further improvements possible in terms of grip on wet roads. The ContiSportContact 3 is therefore designed to be an exceptionally safe high-tech tyre. For high-powered rear wheel drive sports cars, Continental’s tyre developers have designed a special tread pattern, which features a double rib in the tread centre, with a Y-shaped groove separating the two ribs. This design further enhances driving stability during high-speed cornering and on the straight.

As well as the standard tyre, there are also self supporting run-flat and ContiSeal versions of the ContiSportContact 3. With a sticky viscose layer inside the tread to seal a hole in event of a puncture, the ContiSeal tyre is fitted as original equipment on certain Volkswagen models. The ContiSportContact 3 ContiSeal is available in 235/35ZR19 91Y XL, 235/40R18 95W XL and 235/45R17 94W and is removed and fitted as a standard tyre.