Continental Launches ContiSportContact 5 P UHP, Tuning Tyre

Continental has announced the availability of its new tyre for high performance sports cars, the ContiSportContact 5 P. The tyre is already fitted as standard on several Mercedes AMG models, displayed alongside the new Audi TT RS at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The tyre’s official launch in Portimao, Portugal this week is marked by a particular focus on the sorts of technological developments for which Continental is often lauded; representatives of the manufacturer describe the brand as “technology-driven”.

Developed with differently sized rear wheel fitments in addition to front and all-position sizes, the company highlights in particular the speed of the development time for the new CSC 5 P, displaying two prototype “EVOlution” models and explaining how targets were set to achieve the balance of performance and safety features it has achieved. The tyre uses a new asymmetrical hybrid block and ribbed tread design alongside the company’s “Black Chilli” compound in order to achieve the high levels of handling precision, and short braking distances required on the UHP market.

In terms of the market for the tyre, head of Passenger/Light Truck Tire at Conti Nikolai Setzer declared the company optimistic; while the market has experienced a considerable slowdown over the past 15 months, he stated, “we don’t see growth halting” in the 17”-plus, W/Y/Z speed-rated European market. Setzer claims that the segment will experience a continuing, linear upward trend of consistent growth, leading up to the release of the ContiSportContact 5 – a brother to the 5 P – in 2011. At Continental, he said, there has been “no postponement in [research and development] investment.”