HANOVER, Germany—Continental A.G. plans to double the scope of the wet-handling capabilities at its Contidrom tire-testing facility outside of Hanover to accommodate the heavy demand for testing of this type.
Conti did not disclose the expected investment in the expansion, which foresees duplicating the existing 1.1-mile wet-handling course at the facility. The firm did not say when the project might be completed.
The Contidrom opened in 1967 in Wietze, Germany, about 25 miles north of the company's headquarters in Hanover. Since then Conti has tested 1.3 million tires.
Initially, the Contidrom comprised a high-speed 1.7-mile oval, which remains a cornerstone of the facility. The company added 1.1-mile wet-handling and a 2.4-mile dry-handling courses in subsequent years, followed by areas for braking and aquaplaning tests on rail-guided tracks. A pair of circular tracks of different sizes serve primarily for tire tests in wet conditions.
In 2003 an off-road section was opened, offering various gradients, an axial twist track, a steep incline and a water basin, considered ideal for testing off-road tires on 4WD vehicles