Continental : Official sponsor ensures safety of world’s best footballers and its own guests

• Continental equips team and transfer buses at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil with premium bus tires
• Third-generation ContiGol Urbano bus tires specially developed for the Brazilian market

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Hanover, June 26, 2014. As an official sponsor to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil, Continental is equipping all 32 team buses and the transfer buses for its own guests with premium bus tires. The ContiGol Urbano was specially designed to meet the requirements of urban traffic in Brazil, such as frequent stops and changes in speed, and with its new rubber compound presents a 30 percent improvement in mileage compared to its predecessor. In addition, the ContiGol is equipped with AirKeep®-Technology, so that the tire retains its proper inflation pressure up to 50 percent longer. This leads to less deformation and better driving characteristics. All of the World Cup buses will be fitted with the 275/80 R 22.5 version of the ContiGol Urbano to ensure that the national squads and delegations arrive safely at the stadiums where the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ will take place.

All team and transfer busses were fitted with the 275/80 R 22.5 version of the ContiGol Urbano bus tires.

The name is not the only clue that the ContiGol Urbano is a real World Cup tire; its sidewall has also been specially designed with stylized footballs, the FIFA World Cup logo and the vulcanized yellow logo of Continental. As a result, these characteristic tires will ensure a highly visible presence throughout the entire event.

"We are proud, that our premium bus tires are used on the team buses during the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. As the only link between the buses and the road, the ContiGol ensures maximum safety for the world's best footballers during the tournament as well as for passengers and drivers in everyday life," remarks Dr. Andreas Esser, Head of the Business Unit Commercial Vehicle Tires at Continental.

The ContiGol Urbano was specially designed to meet the requirements of urban traffic in Brazil and features a specially designed sidewall with stylized footballs, the FIFA World Cup logo and the vulcanized yellow logo of Continental.

Continental's tire research & development department, where all of the company's bus tires are developed, develops tailor-made products and solutions for all regions across the globe. The premium tire manufacturer had already supplied the bus tires at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. Since then, not only have stopping distances been substantially shortened but rolling resistance too has been greatly reduced, with a marked positive effect on fuel consumption.

Production of the ContiGol Urbano began at the Continental tire plant in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil in the first quarter of 2014. Two sizes - 275/80 R 22.5 and 295/80 R 22.5 - are being manufactured, destined for the markets of Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela.