New ContiRV20 Ideal for Airport Ground Service

FORT MILL, S.C., Oct. 14, 2009 -- Continental Tire North America, Inc. ("Continental") is supplying a new benchmark for airport ground service industrial tires with the recently released ContiRV20.

The ContiRV20 is the first pneumatic industrial tire developed with the durability, speed characteristics and comfort needed for the airport ground service application, said Martin Burdorf, director of industrial tire sales and marketing for Continental - the Americas. The ContiRV20's design sets a new standard in ride comfort and handling on airport sites.

The ContiRV20 owes its strength and durability to a closed shoulder that avoids tread tearing and a reinforced sidewall which resists damage. Field tests have shown a reduction in tire replacement by 5-6 times compared to passenger/van tires or crossply tires in the airport ground support application.

In high-speed applications, heat buildup can lead to reduced service life. The ContiRV20 reduces this problem with a perfectly balanced tread depth, Burdorf said. The tread also features a unique Continental compound that minimizes rolling resistance, leading to greater fuel economy, while still maintaining a full grip on all surfaces.

"The lowered rolling resistance of the ContiRV20 allows customers to save fuel costs with every mile they drive on this tire," Burdorf explained. "The extra mileage per gallon of fuel, up to 30 percent more than with a crossply (bias) tire, allows airlines to work toward lowering their overall energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as required by law."

Continental also designed the ContiRV20 with features that provide a smooth ride for airport personnel in ground support. Its ribbed tread design minimizes vibration, which reduces wear on the vehicle itself, while the radial carcass by design offers the maximum comfort level on this type of terrain.

"The ContiRV20 is the ideal solution for airport ground service vehicles that often experience sidewall damage, excessive tread wear and damage that causes flat tires. This product, together with Continental's commercial truck and passenger tires, rounds out our suite of tire offerings to the airport ground support industry. Now, airport personnel can choose Continental tires for all of their equipment from service trucks to passenger vans, and enjoy a tire that is customized to their specific needs yet lowers their operating costs," Burdorf said.

The ContiRV20 is available in various sizes for industrial and drop-center rims, and new TSR (Tubeless Sealing Ring) technology allows it to be mounted as a tubeless solution for industrial rims. For more information, visit a Continental industrial tire dealer or www.continental-industrial-tires.com.

With sales exceeding euro 24 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires 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. The corporation currently employs approximately 130,000 at nearly 190 locations in 35 countries.

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