Press Release
Short version
General Tire on-road SUV tire:
On the starting grid: the new General Tire Grabber GT
(Hanover, February 2013) With the new Grabber GT, 4x4 tire specialist General Tire is now launching an on-road tire specially designed to cope with the exacting demands of SUV and 4x4 operation. The new tire replaces the tried-and-trusted predecessor with immediate effect. Its special strong points are high safety under braking on dry and wet roads, precise handling and safe wet-weather performance. To reduce SUV fuel consumption, the developers have reduced rolling resistance by seven percent. At the same time they also improved mileage capability by three percent and reduced noise emissions by eight percent. The tire is offered in 42 sizes, with speed ratings from 190 to 300 km/h. These sizes cater for a wide range of road-going SUVs, including the Audi Q3, Honda CR-V, Range Rover Evoque and Porsche Cayenne. Under the European tire labeling system, all tire sizes achieve wet grip class C, and fuel efficiency class E. They also score a two-bar rating for noise.
General Tire expects demand for on-road SUV tires in Europe to increase. While the market volume for S- and T-rated tires (speed ratings 160 and 190 km/h) currently stands at around 2.5 million units a year, demand for tires with speed ratings from 210 to 270 km/h has increased significantly, from 4.5 million in 2009 to 5.5 million in 2011. The new Grabber GT from General Tire, a brand with American roots, is aimed at SUV owners looking for a fast and safe on-road tire.
General Tire–Tyres since 1915
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, General Tire has been making tyres for all types of motor vehicles ever since its founding in 1915. In 1987 the company was taken over by Continental. Today General Tire markets tyres worldwide for cars and trucks as well as for industrial applications, including specialty tyres for 4x4 vehicles.
Continental Corporation
With preliminary sales of €32.7 billion in 2012, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has more than 170,000 employees in 46 countries.
Tire division
The Tire division includes the Passenger and Light Truck Tires, the Commercial Vehicle Tire, and the Industrial Tire business units, as well as the Two-Wheel Tire activities. As one of the world's leading tire manufacturers with more than 41,000 employees, the division achieved cumulative sales of more than €8.8 billion in 2011. The Tire division currently has 22 production and development locations worldwide. The broad product range and continuous investments in R&D make a major contribution to cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility.
Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental is one of the leading manufacturers of passenger and light truck tires in Europe and the world’s fourth largest passenger tire manufacturer in the original equipment and replacement market. The product development focus of the Continental premium brand is to optimize all safety-relevant characteristics, while simultaneously minimizing rolling resistance.
www.continental-reifen.de
Commercial Vehicle Tires
The Commercial Vehicle Tire business unit had sales of more than €1.8 billion in 2011, making it one of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus, and industrial tires worldwide.
www.continental-truck-tires.com
Sponsoring
Continental's Tire division is an official sponsor of the German DFB Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and UEFA EURO 2016TM in France
www.ContiSoccerWorld.de
Alexander Bahlmann
Head of PR, Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental AG
Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25
30165 Hanover, Germany
Ph.: +49 (0) 511 938 2615
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
www.continental-reifen.de / Klaus Engelhart
Press Spokesman, Passenger and Light Truck/Two-Wheel Tires
Germany/Austria/Switzerland
Continental AG
Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25
30165 Hanover, Germany
Ph.: +49 (0) 511 938 2285
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
Media Database
www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com