Continental on track for success

THERMAL, Calif.—You can't blame Bjoern Glaeser if he feels a little attached to his team's latest creation.

After all, Glaeser, the product manager for performance tires for Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., said it took a lot of painstaking work while navigating COVID-related obstacles during the last four years in order to produce the tire maker's latest offering: the ExtremeContract Sport02, an ultra-high-performance (UHP) tire designed for the car enthusiast to run on the road or on the track.

"I would definitely marry her," Glaeser joked during the rollout of the tire, held at the BMW Performance Center West, a multi-track driver training facility located 32 miles southwest of Palm Springs.

"What we have essentially done is carried on the tradition of (its predecessor, the ExtremeContact Sport), with bigger, bolder technology," Glaeser said.

The tire features Conti's SportPlus technology, which provides enhanced responsiveness, improved grip on wet roads and extended tread life.

The ExtremeContact Sport02 replaces the ExtremeContact Sport, which has been on the market since 2016, in the Conti lineup. The tire is positioned in Conti's replacement UHP line between the ExtremeContact Force summer track product and the ExtremeContact DWS Plus all-season product.

As many as 100 engineers, technicians, etc. across the company worked on the development of the tire, according to Glaeser.

That expertise also included input from Lakeville, Ind.-based Hoosier Racing Tire, which Conti acquired in 2016.

"Bringing them on board has elevated our UHP capability beyond what that it is," Travis Roffler, director of marketing, said.

That technology was on display at the BMW Performance Center, where a group of around 70 people—comprising Conti dealers/distributors, media, social-media influencers and Conti personnel—tested the tire on a certified race track.

Drivers had the chance to use the product—as well as a competitor's product and an all-season product—on several courses, including on a timed track, a wet/dry track and a drifting track.

The reviews were positive.

Paul Pittner, managing director of procurement and supply chain for Buffalo, N.Y.-based Dunn Tire L.L.C., said he loves the concept.

"They did a wonderful job of engineering and building the tire," Pittner said. "It has incredibly predictable handling."

Joe Interrante, CEO and president of Atlanta-based OE Wheel Works L.L.C., said he ranks it among the top three UHP summer tires. He called the event a great opportunity to see a new generation of Continental product.

Interrante, who only recently become a Conti customer, called the ride comfort of the ExtremeContact Sport02 "very good" and its cornering ability "fantastic." The tire's braking performance, he said, was difficult to ascertain because of the use of ABS.

"The wet-weather performance was very good, all the way across," he said. "I was very impressed with way it channeled through the water. After the water, it can be a problem, but it just soaked up right away."

The tire eventually will be available in 77 sizes, including eight new sizes — 65 sizes are available today, with a dozen more set to debut in February. The tire will fit passenger vehicles with fitments covering 15- to 21-inch rim diameters.

Glaeser said the tire maker specifically focused on fitting vehicles such as the Mazda Miata, Audi, BMW and Porsche that are popular with performance car enthusiasts who drive daily but may enjoy an occasional day on the track.

"If anyone wants to chase car clubs with the product," Glaeser told dealers, "know that you can go chase them, knowing confidently you are going to be able to fit them."

Glaeser said Conti engineers quickly identified the traits they wanted to improve versus the tire's predecessor.

"For us, that was clear: dry handling, crispness, responsiveness," Glaeser said. "Overall, we want to be an incremental step for the next generation. That was our goal, the number one thing people are going to care about."

The ExtremeContact Sport02 delivers up to one second faster dry handling lap time, according to test results conducted at Conti's Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas.

"When you drive race cars, being one second faster means you're 100 feet ahead of the person behind you," Glaeser said. "That's quite a bit. If you're going on a longer track, (that distance) could be more, it could be less."

Glaeser said the tire delivers overall wet grip as well.

Keith Noble, regional manager for Black's Tire & Auto Service, witnessed that performance on the track, calling the product "definitely everything that Continental advertised it to be. During the test, it most certainly out-performed the competition in wet and dry conditions."

Noble said the tire exhibited "fantastic grip in and out of corners in the varying conditions being tested. The SportsPlus Technology that Continental has put into the design of the tire makes it elite."

Another key feature of the tire is the tuned performance indicators: D and W symbols embedded in the tread.

When the W is worn down (at 4/32nds-inch tread depth), the tire no longer delivers optimal wet performance; when the D is worn down (at 2/32nds-inch tread depth), it's time to replace the tire.

"This tire, so we don't have to fiddle for a penny, tells you when it's time to replace it," Glaeser said.

The tire also is backed by Conti's Total Confidence Plan, which includes a 30,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. That warranty drops to 15,000 miles if the tire is driven on a staggered-fitment vehicle.

While pricing was not disclosed, Conti said MAP price position would be slightly lower than three of its Tier 1 competitors.

The tire will be manufactured at Conti's European plants, which supply much of the UHP product worldwide.

"There might be a lot of good tires in the segment," Glaeser said, "but as an overall package, this tire is an example of how we believe we deliver value to you."

Noble said the tire has lived up to its promotion and marketing, competing against other options in the market.

"The added bonus that the tire comes with a 30,000 mile manufacturer warranty and predominant UTQG rating of 340 AAA is a rarity in the UHP segment," he said.

"This tire will do well in the metro markets and in our locations where the consumer has more options to purchase higher priced vehicles and luxury models. The tire will do well with the UHP enthusiasts."

Travis Roffler (left), director of marketing, and Bjoern Glaeser, product manager for performance tires, pose beside Conti's new ExtremeContact Sports 02.