04/15/2010

• For forklifts, side loaders and other industrial trucks
• Rugged design for arduous applications

• Conspicuous high-traction tread pattern

Hanover/Munich, April, 2010. The Continental Business Unit Industrial Tyres has added an entirely new product to its portfolio. The ContiRT20 Performance, a pneumatic radial tyre, is the successor to the IC80 and ConRad HT. This new tyre can be relied on to move extremely heavy loads at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph). In the size 12.00 R 20 this tyre celebrates its world premiere at bauma.

The specifications listed in the development of the new ContiRT20 Performance were extremely demanding. In several criteria this tyre had to meet higher requirements than those made on the ConRad HT and CONRAD. With approximately the same tread depth and similar dimensions, the new tyre managed to achieve up to 30% greater life expectancy. The good traction characteristics of the ContiRT20 Performance are immediately obvious from the tread pattern design. The tyre also fulfills greater demands in terms of even wear and suspension characteristics, without making compromises in stationary stability or protection against stone trapping.

Since September 2008 the new product has undergone scrutiny according to the full set of tyre testing rules, including comparing the tyre's performance with that of its competitors. Across a wide range of tests, the new tyre scored one point after another, demonstrating its powerful performance. Developers and testing engineers alike took into account the heavy stress to which such a product is subjected later when used in the wood, steel or cement industry, in shipyards, logistics centres, or in air- and seaports in both indoor and outdoor applications.

The characteristics of the ContiRT20 Performance meet customer expectations across the board. The tread depth, for example, was increased to the maximum to ensure the longest possible service life, even under arduous conditions. The tread pattern design, featuring wide grooves, guarantees reliable traction at all times on both surfaced and unsurfaced ground. Rolling resistance was substantially reduced to ensure low energy consumption, without adversely affecting driving comfort. The ContiRT20 has high performance reserves, which make it a very reliable tyre.

The ContiRT20 Performance will be officially launched at bauma in the size 12.00 R 20. This tyre line is available in the following 13 sizes with Speed Index A5 (25 km/h - 15 mph), which are produced as of April (further sizes will follow, depending on an evaluation of demand):

Sizes as a standard aspect ratio tyre:

6.00 R 9 121 A5 TL

6.50 R 10 18 A5 TL

7.00 R 12 136 A5 TL

8.25 R 15 153 A5 TL

10.00 R 20 166 A5 TL

12.00 R 20 176 A5 TL

Sizes as a low aspect ratio tyre:

180/70 R 8 125 A5 TL

225/75 R 10 142 A5 TL

250/75 R 12 152 A5  TL (production starts in May 2010)

225/75 R 15 149 A5 TL

250/70 R 15 153 A5 TL

315/70 R 15 165 A5 T TL