High performance tyres are World Record breakers

Reaching nearly 180 mph, Mike Newman who is visually-impaired, has broken his own Land Speed World Record, driving alone in a tailor made BMW M5 fitted with ContiSportContact 2 tyres.

On Tuesday October 11^th, at Evington Aerodrome near , Mike smashed his previous record of 144.7mph by averaging a speed of 167.32mph. Whilst Mike hit peak speeds of up to 178.5mph, high performance Continental tyres ensured that the M5 kept contact with the runway at all times.

The ultimate sports tyre for high performance cars, the ContiSportContact 2 has ultra-precise steering response, outstanding traction and greater cornering safety and braking. Together with its dynamic, eye-catching tread pattern, these are the features which make the ContiSportContact 2 a cut above the rest. It also boasts Continental's revolutionary 'cat's paw' technology that increases road contact to reduce braking distances and is the onle approved tyre for the new BMW M5.

This record is by no means the first to be broken by Continental high performance tyres. In May 2004 at the ContiSportContact 2 Vmax launch in Nardo, Italy, Continental achieved a new world record for maximum speed on a standard production tyre. A 9ff Porsche 996 Turbo driven by Jan Fatthauer achieved a speed of 232.6mph, breaking the previous record by 22mph.

The ContiSportContact Vmax is the class-leading high performance tyre and is the only road tyre rated for speeds of up to 225mph. Continental’s revolutionary ‘cat’s paw’ technology increases road contact to reduce braking distances and enables high speeds to be reached without burnout.

Tracey Hyem, passenger tyres brand manager at Continental, said, “Our high performance tyres are designed for drivers who want to get the most out of their car. The fact that Continental’s tyres hold two world records demonstrates our technical expertise and strength in tyre innovation.”

Continental’s high performance tyre range also includes the ContiPremiumContact 2 which is equipped with unique 3D tread grooves which facilitate excellent handling and braking performance and the ContiCrossContact UHP for high performance SUV’s.