Driving safely in the rain

Hanover/ Essen, May 2008. The weather conditions are not always ideal for driving. Weather databases report around 140 days of rain per year in Europe. More than 30% of all accidents occur in this time, so it is no surprise that it is particularly in the wet that most drivers expect top performance from their tyres. This is precisely the reason why Uniroyal tyres are developed.

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NEW - the Uniroyal RainSport 2, a high-performance rain tyre for powerful saloons, sports cars and customised vehicles

The RainSport 2, to be launched by Uniroyal this summer, is a sports tyre that sets new standards on rain-soaked roads. It replaces the well-established RainSport 1 and outperforms its predecessor in all aspects. What is particularly remarkable about the tyre is the further improvement to the already outstanding performance in the wet, combined with a clear 8% increase in mileage. One of the main contributing factors to this was the special tread compound, referred to by the developers as Red-Hot Silica Compound. "Special filler particles mean the rubber compound can adapt better to the roughness of the road surface" explained Lukas Kosmala, Product Manager for Uniroyal's Summer Ultra High Performance Tyres. "That way the effective contact area between the tyre and the road is increased, enabling the tyre to interlock better with the road surface."

The advanced V-shaped tread pattern, now with curved ribs for more efficient water dispersion, provides greater aquaplaning safety. "The curved V-shaped tread rib allows optimum ground pressure distribution, which builds up from the centre to the sides of the tread ribs" commented Lukas Kosmala. "As a result, the water is forced more efficiently into the tread grooves." A special 3D structure in the groove base and groove sides enhances water dispersion from the ground contact patch - in particular, spraying the water to the sides before the tread pattern elements enter the ground contact patch. What is more, the even pressure distribution under each tread block without pressure peaks on the block edges leads to an extremely uniform transmission of forces, resulting in shorter braking distances on dry roads.

In the current comparative test run by the German magazine 'AutoBild' (issue 11/2008), the RainSport 2 was tested in the size 225/45 R 17 W and rated as 'good'. This tyre is approved for speeds of up to 300 km/h (187 mph). There are 51 sizes available, ranging from 205/55 R 16 W to the extremely sporty 275/30 R 19 W as an XL version.

Uniroyal rallye 550 - the dynamic high-speed rain tyre for medium range and luxury cars

Like all rain tyres in the Uniroyal family, the main performance criteria of the rallye 550 are its distinctive characteristics in the wet: high aquaplaning safety and short braking distances in wet conditions. "To achieve this the developers used an advanced double V-shaped tread pattern and a special tyre contour concept" explained Petra Engels, Product Manager for Uniroyal's compact summer tyres. "The special design of the tread grooves means that rainwater can be quickly discharged. The optimised ground contact patch also ensures best possible water dispersion." The latest generation silica compound used in the rallye 550 means short braking distances. The tyre's tread pattern geometry, based on elaborate computer calculations, ensures that tread pattern elements run smoothly into the ground contact patch, thereby achieving high comfort through low noise levels.

In the current comparative test in the German magazine 'ADAC motorwelt' (issue 3/2008), the rallye 550, size 195/65 R 15 V, was rated as 'recommended'. The tyre is approved for speeds of up to 270 km/h (168 mph). There are 46 sizes available from 14" to 17". Current sizes range from 175/65 R 14 H to 205/50 R 16 V.

Uniroyal rallye 680 - the rain tyre for compact and small cars

Nippy, highly manoeuvrable and dynamic - that is the rallye 680, which meets the particular requirements of city runabouts, among others. The outstanding design element on this tyre is its hydrodynamic and flow-optimised arrow-shaped tread pattern. "The special shape of this creates a highly accelerated turbine effect, which means that a large part of the water is already ejected before the tread reaches the contact patch" explained Petra Engels, Product Manager for Uniroyal's compact summer tyres. "What remains is then discharged efficiently via the tread pattern." In this way the tyre offers effective aquaplaning protection. The specially-developed silica compound used in the tread of the rallye 680 was optimised for wet weather conditions and the angled tread pattern edges provide excellent grip in the wet, together with short braking distances. This tyre is also a good choice for compact and small cars from an economic point of view. "The flat contour and the 'decoupling sipes' in the tread blocks ensure even wear" commented Lukas Kosmala. "The upshot of this is a substantial gain in mileage performance."

The rallye 680 is approved for speeds of up to 210 km/h (131 mph). There are 36 sizes available from 13" to 15", which means that the current range extends from 135/80 R 13 T to 195/65 R 15 T XL.

Uniroyal rallye 4x4 street - exemplary performance for SUVs and medium range to luxury 4x4 vehicles

Like the rallye 550 for cars, the rallye 4x4 street also features a double V-shaped tread pattern in conjunction with an optimised tyre contour, which give it the same good characteristics in the wet, thanks to the very fast, interlocked longitudinal and lateral water dispersion. It is nevertheless a completely independent product, because the rallye 4x4 street has more and larger tread lugs, a greater diameter and a higher Load Index. Wide shoulder lugs ensure good handling characteristics and driving stability.

During development great importance was attached not just to the wet weather characteristics typical for Uniroyal products, but also - and primarily - to a rugged tread compound and design, reflected in the tyre's dual-layer casing, modified steel cord and special reinforcement of the cover. In addition, the tyre has an exceptionally sturdy shoulder section for good off-road traction. This does not change the fact, though, that the rallye 4x4 street was designed first and foremost for use on the road. A special silica compound for SUV tyres ensures optimum grip on wet and dry roads, plus driving stability and short braking distances.

The rallye 4x4 street was most recently tested in 2007 by the German magazine 'Auto Bild alles allrad'. The size examined was the 225/55 R 17 H and the tyre was rated 'exemplary'. This dedicated rain tyre for SUVs is approved for speeds of up to 240 km/h (150 mph) and is available in 20 sizes from 15" to 18". The current size ranges extends from 195/80 R 15 H to 225/55 R 18 H, including various versions with an XL rating and flange rib.

The Belgian rubber goods manufacturer Englebert produced tyres from 1895 and the company's customers included Continental AG. When the firm merged with US Rubber in 1958, it was then known as Uniroyal Englebert. Uniroyal, the inventor of the rain tyre, has been a European brand within the portfolio of Continental AG in Hanover, Germany since 1979.

With targeted annual sales of more than i26.4 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. As a supplier of tyres, brake systems, systems and components for the power train and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

The tyre divisions are an Official Sponsor of UEFA EURO 2008^TM, which will be held in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008. For further details, visit www.ContiSoccerWorld.de, www.ContiFanWorld.com and www.conti-online.com.