ContiSportContact3

Continental has just won a coveted tyre test from the UK’s monthly car magazine, evo. The ContiSportContact3 took top spot in this year’s performance tyre test which will be announced in the February edition of evo magazine .

The evo performance tyre test highlights exceptional product performance across areas such as wet and dry handling, aquaplaning and braking. Fitted across a wide range of car models throughout the market, evo tested the Continental 235/40 R18 from a range of competitor tyre brands. The title praised the Continental’s abilities across areas such as wet handling and braking, taking top spot in both of these categories.

On commenting on the Continental ContiSportContact3 an evo spokesperson, said ; “‘Masterful’, we said of the Continental. There were some great performances on the wet circuit but the Conti still stood out, setting the fastest lap time, recording the highest lateral G, and scoring the highest subjective mark, too-it wasn’t bettered. Especially impressive was its stability-It barely acknowledged puddles that were registered by its closest rivals, and its traction was superb. ‘Amazingly surefooted and grippy; the limit is your nerve.’”

If you want more information on the Continental product range, visit www.conti-online.co.uk/passenger.

A recent on-line poll conducted by CCB fast.MAP of 1,000 motorists, for the tyre retailer mytyres.co.uk, found that skidding on wet roads is the biggest fear for most drivers. 55% of motorists said this was their biggest fear with breaking down on the road coming second. Interestingly getting a puncture only scored 3%.

There has been considerable wet weather in the past few weeks and the forecast also looks set for more damp conditions. Recent evidence has shown that many drivers are putting off replacing their tyres because of the economic conditions and this is a worrying trend around tyre safety. The legal limit for tyre replacement is 1.6mm, across the whole band width of the tyre and most motorists should start thinking about replacement before this as the tyre loses its grip as it becomes worn.

Cooper Zeon 4XS

Cooper Tire, the US tyre manufacturer has launched their first ever UHP 4X4/SUV premium tyre, the Cooper Zeon 4XS, in the UK. The tyre was designed and built by British engineers based at Melksham,Wiltshire.

This new tyre is specifically designed to fit the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touraeg, BMW X5, Volvo XC90,  Audi Q7 and Mercedes M-Class and is available to buy in V, W and Y speed ratings.

Fill Up With Air

Michelin, the tyre retailer, has found that 36% of UK motorists are driving with dangerous tyres or under-inflated tyres. They launched the “2009 Full Up With Air” tyre safety roadshow campaign to offer drivers a free tyre pressure check and visited many cities including Dundee, Manchester and Birmingham.

Michelin’s head of communications, Peter Snelling, said “Tyres are the only thing keeping a car on the road and it’s all too easy for drivers to take them for granted and not treat them with the utmost care and attention that they deserve”.

Kwik-Fit has completed a recent study that has shown that 64% of motorists describe themselves as “cautious” and take no risks in their choice of tyres, opting for tyres based solely on tyre safety qualities.

Image conscious motorists (62%) opt for brand names like Pirelli or Continental and 72% describe themselves as thrill-seekers and study the form of high performance tyres before buying. However most motorists consider themselves “thrifty” (59%) and prefer to choose non-branded tyres based on the cheapest quote.

Whatever tyre you choose the number one priority is to always make sure the tyres you fit are the right specification for your vehicle, are inflated to the correct pressure and have sufficient tread depth.

Check tyres with a 20p coin

TyreSafe has warned that many company car drivers are not making enough safety checks on their tyres and are risking serious injury. They conducted a survey and found that 25 percent of company car drivers had never checked the depth of their tyre tread and 41 percent had not checked them in the last six months.

To simply check your tyre tread depth, Tyresafe is recommending the “lifesaver in your pocket” campaign using a 20p piece. By checking your tyres once a month you can ensure your tyres are still roadworthy and legal for driving. There is also a video on the Tyresafe website @ www.tyresafe.org to explain the dangers of driving with illegal tyres and tyre safety.

TyreSafe’s tips for checking tyre tread depths

1. Ideally, tyre tread depth should be checked at least once a month at the same time that you check your tyre pressure.
2. If you do not have a calibrated tread depth gauge a 20p coin provides a useful guide.
3. Insert the 20p coin into the main tyre grooves at several places around the circumference of the tyre and across its width.
4. If the outer band of the 20p coin is visible whenever you check the tread, your tread depth may be illegal and you should have them checked by a qualified tyre specialist.
5. When checking your tread depth, give the rest of the tyres a visual inspection for any cuts or bulges and remove any stones or objects embedded in the tread.

33% stronger sidewall

If you drive a 4×4 you will be pleased to know that BFGoodrich has launched the second generation of its celebrated off-road tyre, the Mud Terrain T/AKM2. This new tyre replaces the Mud Terrain T/AKM and is the market leader in the off-road category vehicle market.

Robustness was the top priority when the engineers built this one and they have produced a tyre capable of overcoming harsh, uneven, muddy and rocky surfaces. Three technologies have been incorporated into the T/AKM2 – aggressive sidewall lugs, cut and chip-resistant sidewall compounds and stronger sidewall cords. All three of these have been tried and tested already on one of the most successful tyres in off-road racing, the BFGoodrich Krawler TEK.

The side wall cords of the BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/AKM2 are up to 33% stronger than the previous tyre. The TriGard 3-ply casing has much stronger cords and this significantly improves sidewall damage resistance. The thick lugs on the shoulders of the tyre also provide superior grip and enhanced protection. Use of the new cut and chip-resistant rubber compound ensures the risk of tearing your tyre is much reduced.

Mud Terrain T/AKM2

The new tyres will be available in 16 sizes in 15-inch, 16-inch and 17-inches, diameters from 215 to 305mm and 85 to 70 series aspect ratios and with a Q speed symbol. The M+S marking on the sidewall of the tyre will also indicate the tyre has been approved for usage in mud or snow. 4×4 car leasing is available off the site now including BMW X5, Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7.

Drivers risking serious accidents driving on illegal tyres

The National Tyre Distributors Association has reported that when testing 60,000 cars in January 2009 , 7000 were being driven on at least one illegal tyre. They estimate this could affect 3.6 million motorists in the UK, if the figures were grossed up.

The legal minimum tread depth limit in the UK, is 1.6 mm. This must be in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width and over the whole circumference of the tyre.

TyreSafe, the non profit organisation dedicated to raising tyre safety levels, has also found out through their own research that nearly one in ten motorists expect to spend less on tyres in 2009 than the previous year.

This is a false economy as not only could drivers increase their chances of an accident but it is illegal to drive on tyres that are below the minimum requirements. Motorists could face a maximum of three penalty points on their licence and a fine of up to £2500 per tyre.

Further tips on driving on safe tyres can be found at the TyreSafe website.

Ralph Morton, editor of Business Car Manager  has reported that drivers can save up to £120 a year simply by ensuring their tyres are inflated correctly.

It doesn’t take long to check your tyres, however even if you are 10psi under inflated you can use nearly 2.5% more fuel than at the correct tyre pressure, according to Continental Tyres. It will also put you more at risk of an accident.

The national poll showed that only 45 % of drivers in England check their pressures regularly whereas more than half of Irish and Scottish motorists check their tyre pressure every month.