CONTINENTAL has created the first ever road tyre to be approved for speeds of up to 225mph. The high tech tyre, which has been specifically designed for ultra-fast, customised performance sports cars, will now be available in four sizes from spring 2004. With exclusive high-performance cars now capable of speeds previously only heard of in the domain of Formula 1, Continental's ContiSportContact

2 Vmax has been developed in direct response to the demand for a tyre to cope with such demands. The new ContiSportContact 2 Vmax super-sport tyre boasts the following unique features and benefits: cooler running when travelling at high speed through additional tread grooves; improved handling due to a lower than tread depth of 6.3 to 7 millimetres (standard 8mm); improved performance in the wet through optimised tread pattern.

Mark Hopkins, brand manager at Continental, said: "The Vmax is a natural evolution in our production of high speed tyres. It is designed with drivers of ultra-high performance cars in mind who want to get the most out of their car.

I am sure it will quickly prove itself as the indispensable accessory for any serious ultra-high performance driver." The launch of this new premium high performance Vmax tyre demonstrates Continental's unequivocal commitment and presence in this fast growing dynamic sector of the market.