1926 Carbon black is used as a reinforcing filter to give the tire more resistance to wear and ageing, as well as its characteristic color. 1928/29 Merger with major companies of the German rubber industry to form Continental Gummi-Werke AG. Takeover of plants in Hanover-Limmer and Korbach/Hesse. 1932 Continental markets a rubber-metal bonding under the registered trade name of Continental Schwingmetall. It is used to isolate vibrations and noise when supporting motors.

1935-40 Unbroken run of racing success with Continental racing tires fitted to Mercedes and Auto-Union cars. Four consecutive wins in the German Grand Prix, four successes in the North African Tripoli race, three in Italy and numerous speed records help racing drivers like Carraciola, Rosemeyer and Stuck to achieve international fame. 1936 Synthetic rubber is introduced into the tire manufacturing process. 1938 Foundation stone is laid for the tire plant in Stöcken, Hanover. 1943 Patent application filed for tubeless tires.

1945 Heavy bomb damage to the plants in Hanover-Vahrenwald and Korbach. The British military government grants permission as early as June, 1945 for the Hanover factories to resume production.

1951 Production of steel cable conveyor belt starts. 1952 Continental adds M+S tires for winter driving to its range of conventional tires.

1951-55 In close collaboration with Daimler-Benz and Porsche, Continental repeats its pre-war successes on the track. Racing in cars fitted with Continental tires, drivers like Karl Kling, Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio win the 1952 Carrera Panamericana and the French, British, Dutch and Italian Grand Prix.

1955 At the beginning of the year Continental is the first German company to start manufacturing tubeless tires. Continental is also the first company to develop air springs for trucks and buses. 1960 Mass production of radial tires begins.

1961 Completion of the plant in Dannenberg, Germany. Initial production comprises plastic components for the automotive industry.

1964 Construction of a tire plant in Sarreguemines, France (photo right). A factory for industrial products is built in Northeim, Germany.

1967 Opening of the Contidrom tire testing facility on the edge of the Lüneburg Heath. In 1994/95 the facility is more than doubled in size to enable the construction of new tracks, including a 3.8 kilometer handling course for high-performance cars. In 2001 a 3.7 kilometer track for noise assessment is opened.