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 Continental News
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Whats the big deal about Black Chili? |
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Black Chili is the name for our latest tyre compound which hit the market in 2007 and has fast become a hit with cyclists across the world who have marvelled at its performance beneifits.
The fact is that Black Chili will improve our tyres performance in all areas. We can even make a tyre to last longer, yet also grip better and roll faster! The figures are astounding; 26% lower rolling resistance, 30% higher grip, and even 5% longer mileage. 
Our motto is: Handmade in Germany!
Black Chili is only made at our factory in Korbach, Germany. No other tyre facility in the world has access to its secrets.
Black Chlli is a new tread mixture, the result of the latest research from our polymer and raw material laboratories in Hanover, Germany. Continental AG refined newly developed synthetic rubbers with proven natural rubber with powerful profile blends. These are 'nano' sized soot particles, who's surface properties are optimized for use in bicycle tyres. These smaller particles enable the tyre tread to deform around surface objects more quickly, improving grip. They also form a tighter bond with each other thus improving compound strength for improved tread life and less chance for lugs to rip and tear on our MTB tyres. The way in which these particles interact with each other also lowers rolling resistance. These new polymers and carbon fillers make Continental racing and mountain bike tyres the quickest and safest tyres in competition!
Compared to the previous leading Continental tyre compound, the Activated Silica (ASC) tyres, Black Chilli offers a 26% lower rolling resistance, a 30% increase in adhesion quality, and a 5% increase in tread life. For road racers and MTB trail riders, the speed and handling advantage is clearly noticeable!
The following tyres in the Continental range all feature Black Chili :
Grand Prix 4000S
Grand Prix 4000 (only black versions)
Grand Prix Attack & Force
Grand Prix Triathlon
Grand Prix Supersonic
Grand Prix 2009
Competition (only black versions)
GP4000 tubular
Sprinter
Podium
Tempo
Der Kaiser
Rain King
Rubber Queen (2008)
Mountain King Supersonic & ProTection
Twister Supersonic
Speed King Supersonic
Race King Supersonic
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| Der Kaiser - Used by Gee Atherton, and 'Most Wanted' by MBUK magazine |
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Septembers edition of MBUK features our new downhill tyre 'Der Kaiser' which is being ridden by the Atherton Racing team this year along with its 'Rain King' counterpart for wetter courses.
Whilst Rachel awaits her return to racing after a serious training accident, Gee & Dan have been racing hard all year and have been impressed by the grip levels of the newcomer on the block thanks to Continentals secret Black Chili compound which can be customised to suit each World Cup course.
With Team Continental's Mike Ingham and Rob Scullion also competing on the UK NPS circuit this year, Continental are now a serious choice for downhill competitors.
With MBUK summing up with ' a downhillers secret weapon...', Der Kaiser can seriously improve your time splits. 
Tyre |
Type |
Size " |
Weight |
Rec |
Max |
| Der Kaiser |
Fold |
26 x 2.5 |
1000g |
45 |
58 |
| Rain King |
Fold |
26 x 2.5 |
950g |
45 |
58 |
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Available now |
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| GP4000 - Test Winner! |
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German magazine TOUR has recently featured a comprehensive road tyre test, covering many aspects of tyre performance, even including 'real time' wet grip where their human tester donned motorcycle leathers and pushed his specially adapted test bicycle to the limit on each different set of tyres.
The complete test can be downloaded here. The Continental GP4000 was a clear winner by performing well in all areas. There was a significant difference between the top models from each brand in terms of grip wit hsome clear winners and losers.
Test rider Fabian Kleiner courageously rode each tyre to its breakaway limit on the wet test circuit. Measuring maximal speeds in the curves, the test rider was able to gain the feel of each tyre prior to its breakaway point, pointing out that the better tyres coveyed a feel of 'full bodied rubber' and showed sensitivity through increasing drift which could be controlled by the rider.
Another finding was that the difference between the best and worst tyres is bigger than the aerodynamic difference between the best and worst wheels! Puncture resistance has generally improved also, with nine tyres passing TOURS puncture test, more than ever before.
Grand Prix 4000S was the most consistant tyre with a weight of 207 grams on the test sample. Its rolling resistance measured in at 34.3 watts, beating even the lighweight race only tyres from the competitors. The resistance was measured using a rig where each tyre was spun against a rolling drum at 35kph at a load of 50kg, conducted by independent TOUR engineers. The variable was the force, converted into a power output in watts needed to power each tyre at the given load & speed.
The speed at which the GP4000S reached on the wet corner was 33 km/h, almost the same as our wet specific GP4Season, and higher than its main competitors. The time it took a sharp screwdriver to penetrate the GP4000s through the tread at a load of 35 kg was three minutes. In fact the test was stopped prior to any penetration as three minutes was defined by the magazine as a 'pass'. Only two other brands also attained a pass grade here.
Click here for more.
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| Gator Hardshell - More is what you get! - Now available - |
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MORE is what you get!
700x23 / 25 / 28 / 32
The Ultra Gatorskin has set the bar for a perfectly balanced blend of ride quality and long term durability without breaking the bank, but still the lack of road maintenence by some UK local authorities means that riders demand MORE.
The all new Gator Hardshell delivers!!!
Sharing the bead to bead protection of Duraskin, the Hardshell casing wraps further into the sidewall, making a full on 3 ply tyre carcass and an extra wide Poly-X breaker belt under the tread extends into the tyre shoulder.
Added material in the tread strip not only improves mileage, but lends yet another degree of puncture resistance.
More isn't always better, but in this case - MORE is what you get
Supersport PLUS
Calling all couriers, hardcore commuters and fixed gear riders!
700x23 or 25
A classic is back, but better than ever. The Supersport pedigree is a long standing brand name within the Conti range. Borrowing a tread pattern from the venerable Grand Prix, the Supersport PLUS now features our Plus Breaker Belt, guaranteed to provide superior puncture protection.
Robust, extra thick casing rubber provides increased sidewall strength also.
If un-interrupted long haul A to B riding is required, this is your tyre
Touring PLUS
No fear of the puncture devil
700x28 / 32 / 37 / 42 / 47, 26x1.75
The Touring PLUS takes off after the Supersport PLUS, covering the wider 700xc and MTB sizes.
The balanced tread pattern has bikes rolling effortlessly down roads and paths, while its finely siped shoulder blocks provide surefooted grip in rougher terrain and corners.
The PLUS breaker belt and high-vis reflective sidewall make for top level safety.
When getting from A to B with the least risk of puncturing is your priority, this is the tyre for you
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| ProTour teams queue up for Conti Rubber in 2010 |
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With top cyclists like
Mark Cavendish, Chrissie Wellington, Gee Atherton, Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde, Tom Boonen, Kristian House, Rob Hayles and Malcolm Elliot all relying on the hand-made tyres from Korbach in Germany in 2010, it promises to be an exciting year. More and more teams are now joining the Black Chili revolution with Belgian team Quickstep and American's BMC recent additions to our roster.
Read more on the teams that we are sponsoring in 2010 here.
The team use our Competition 22mm tubulars for road racing and Podium Pro Limited 22mm tubs for the time trials.
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