Continental

Continental has been developing and manufacturing bicycle tires since 1892. Those early, so-called "pneumatics", which were much more comfortable and had less rolling resistance than the rim-mounted leather or iron bands used before them, have since been transformed into truly high-tech products. Today's product lines offered by Continental are built to satisfy the demands of touring cyclists, mountain bikers and racing professionals Tires - also those for bicycles - consist of different components that are 'baked' under heat and pressure during the vulcanization process to form the finished rubber product. Crude rubber is the essential base material and is mixed together with carbon black, sulfur, accelerators, antioxidants, dyes, waxes and oils. The various tire components are then made out of this mixture together with reinforcing materials like Kevlar and steel wire. Nowadays, more modern materials, such as silica, are included to provide better adhesion on wet surfaces and a lower rolling resistance.