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Hanover, March 2009. The Quartaris is Barum's all-season tyre for compact and medium range vehicles. Safe grip on wet and dry roads and in light wintry conditions was the main criterion in the development of this tyre. This is why the tread pattern incorporates elements of both summer and winter tyres. For this purpose, Barum also developed a directionally-orientated tread pattern, featuring a dedicated, innovative sipe system. The Quartaris is primarily suited to motorists whose cars have a relatively low annual mileage and who drive mainly in town traffic.
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All-season tyres are ordered chiefly by motorists who are looking for driving economy and therefore prefer to avoid switching between summer and winter tyres. The Barum Quartaris was developed to meet this requirement, serving as a compromise between the demands of summer and winter tyres. To this end, the Barum All Season Sipe System (BASSS) was developed: "The pronounced trapezoidal sipes in the centre of the tyre, together with the circular snow pockets in the shoulder blocks, mean the Quartaris provides grip even in the winter" commented Quartaris developer Akif Celik, highlighting this detail. "The snow pockets were arranged in such a way that they can 'collect' soft snow, thereby providing improved grip." Thanks to this design feature, the shoulder blocks on the Quartaris remain stiff enough to ensure safe driving characteristics on dry roads too.
The Quartaris comes with a winter tread wear indicator to ensure that motorists are clearly aware of their tyre's winter suitability - in the tread grooves, which carry the snowflake symbol, there is a small raised section between the blocks. "When this raised section is level with the surrounding tread area, the tread is just 4 millimetres deep and the tyre should no longer be used on wintry roads" Celik explained. "The sipes and snow pockets are then no longer deep enough and are unable to build up the grip necessary for setting off and braking safely."
The Quartaris offers safe driving characteristics, not just in winter, but also on wet roads, thanks to its directionally-orientated tread pattern featuring wide circumferential and lateral grooves that can collect and disperse water quickly. Shallow sipes in the tyre centre and on the tyre shoulder act like windscreen wipers, dispersing water during braking. The silica compound also helps to ensure good grip and short braking distances in the wet.
The two straight circumferential ribs in the tread centre, combined with large, sturdy shoulder blocks, mean safe driving in the summer. The ribs deliver an exact steering response and short braking distances, whilst the shoulder blocks mean precise handling in bends.
The Quartaris all-season tyre carries the M+S designation as well as the snowflake symbol. Like any all-season tyre, the Quartaris constitutes a compromise at the highest possible level. This is why Barum recommends this tyre especially for motorists who drive primarily in town. The new Quartaris will be available from the autumn in 18 sizes between 14" and 15" and in widths from 155 to 205mm; it is approved for speeds of up to 210 km/h (131 mph).
For a complete view of the Quartaris product range, click here.
Barum is a tire brand of Continental AG. With targeted annual sales of €25 billion for 2008, the Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of tires, brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics 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. Today, the corporation employs approximately 146,500 at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.
A quarter of all tires in Europe are manufactured by Continental, the market leader. More than 30 per cent of all new European cars leave the factory fitted with Continental tires. The tire divisions are an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2010™ in South Africa. For further details, please visit www.ContiSoccerWorld.de, www.ContiFanWorld.com and www.conti-online.com.
Klaus Engelhart Press and Public Relations Division PLT-Tyres Büttnerstrasse 25 www.barum-online.com
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