05/23/2011

• Test surface is designed to simulate „real-world“ driving conditions
• Vehicle Dynamics Pad Covers 60.000 m² (640.000 sqft)
• Total Investment of $3,5 Million USD, approximatly 2,5 Mio € EUR 

Hanover / Uvalde, Texas, May 23^rd, 2011. Continental Tire The Americas has inaugurated its new test surface, capable of running both wet and dry tire and vehicle dynamics tests. The new surface with an investment cost of approximately $3,5 Million USD (~2,5 Mio € EUR) is part of Continental’s Proving Ground, situated in Uvalde, Texas USA.

The Vehicle Dynamics Area is situated on a level, paved square that spans an area of 640.000 sqft (60.000 sqm) and provides several test options to simulate real-world driving sceneries, safely allowing for tire and vehicle stability tests at the „limit“. This also allows the standard vehicles to mix with high powered, sporty counterparts that have very high demands for tire performance. Continental is expanding it’s wet track testing portfolio, which will significantly contribute to the development of summer tires.

The new facility was inaugurated by Thomas Neddenriep, Continental’s Head Tire Evaluation PLT Tires. Neddenriep stressed that „tire testing is simply not possible without the ability to conduct the testing under realistic conditions“. ‚We continue to rely on products that are tested at the highest level, offer maximum safety, driving pleasure and environmental consciousness.“ stated Neddenriep during the inauguration. „This continues to require that testing be conducted under conditions that best reflect the demands placed on the tire under real world conditions.“

The track surface was chosen to reflect the average asphalt surfaces motorists would encounter while simultaneously allowing a high degree of differentiation between different tires. The new irrigation system uniformly distributes water across the entire width, which is adjustable from 1.3 to 2.8mm.

Construction in Uvalde began in September 2010 an included over 88,000 metric tons of material and over 700 truckloads of rock that had to be transported to the site. The Texan testing location has the ability to perform year round testing, independent of the North German weather. In addition to heavy use by other Continental divisions and the Automotive Industry, the Uvalde location receives frequent visits from Tire and Automotive Journalists. In addition, the test center is also used by the Police department and other local organizations for driver and safety training. The expansion ensures that all types of tire tests - with the exception of standard winter testing - can be performed in Uvalde.