04/13/2011

• ContiEcoContact 5: 20 percent less rolling resistance and improved braking
• ContiSportContact 5: Even better handling, braking and rolling resistance

Hanover, 13 April 2011.

Leading European tyre manufacturer Continental has combined the presentation of its two new summer tyres with an elaborate technique of measurement.

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The “Autodromo Internacional Algarve” race track near Portimao in Portugal was rented exclusively for this purpose and a varied driving programme made available. Over 40 passenger vehicles in total were equipped with the ContiEcoContact 5 and ContiSportContact 5 in order to test the suitability of the tyres in critical situations.

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To ensure that the drivers were not forced to rely on feeling alone, the test cars for the ContiEcoContact 5 were equipped with the latest generation of measurement technology, which was used on the Golf VI and the BMW 1 series. Fuel consumption, braking distance and lap times were recorded by each individual driver, transmitted telemetrically and then later combined to form a group assessment. This enabled comparisons to be made between the fuel-saving ContiEcoContact 5 and the previous model and a test tyre which had been specially optimized for low rolling resistance. While the test drivers were extremely impressed by the savings of around one quarter of a litre of fuel per 100 km recorded using the extremely precise technique of measurement, the weaknesses of this summer tyre optimised for just one specific aspect quickly became apparent when braking under wet conditions – the vehicle could only just be kept in its lane and the lap times became significantly longer. Compared with the previous model, the ContiEcoContact 5 on the other hand showed that the engineers at Continental have managed to combine high safety reserves and environmentally-friendly features in a high-performance tyre: Fitted with this tyre, the test car used around four percent less fuel than with the previous model and braked quickly and safely even on wet asphalt.

One new feature of the ContiEcoContact 5 is that it is approved for up to 300 km/h, making the tyre a money-saving and environmentally-friendly option even for fast cars.

Here you can download the photo.

The test result for the new ContiSportContact 5 was just as conclusive, proving that the tyre can negotiate bends safely even on dry tracks. Even in critical situations, which are extremely numerous for engineers in the field of tyre development, the test vehicles ranging from the Audi TT RS and A 7 and the Golf VI R, right through to the Jaguar XF reacted safely to steering commands at all times. Braking on curves worked perfectly, even with speeds of up to 240 km/h reached at the end of the start straights and home stretches. The good features of the previous model were improved even further by several percentage points. The new sports tyre from the Hanover-based company provided a safe driving feeling at all times – regardless of whether the test car was powered with front or rear wheel drive.

The two new summer tyre models from Continental are available to buy now and a wide range of additional sizes are currently in progress. The range of sizes for the fuel-saving model starts at 14 inches, the sports tyre fits rims of between 17 and 18 inches. A special range of sizes is available for SUV tyres ranging from 18 to 20 inches.