The ContiSportContact Vmax has been officially recognised as the world's fastest standard production road tyre. Independent technical experts documented the recent record attempt to ensure entry into the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records.

The record was set by German Jan Fatthauer, who runs his own Porsche customising company and under test conditions, he reached 242 mph (388 km/h) using ContiSportContact Vmax tyres. He also currently holds the record for the world's fastest car approved for road use.

Modern sports cars now have engines as powerful as top class racing cars. Models from specialised tuners, as well as from manufacturers such as Porsche and Ferrari, can today reach speeds of 225 mph (360 km/h) and more.

It was specifically for the need for safety at such high speeds that Continental developed the ContiSportContact Vmax. The tyre has to withstand the stresses created by these cars during braking, accelerating and cornering.

The super sports tyre is based on the successful ContiSportContact family; the ContiSportContact Vmax model was developed through a special programme to achieve these demanding high speed characteristics.

The major priority was efficient tyre cooling, whilst maintaining excellent handling and good grip in the wet. "When developing this high-tech road tyre we were able to call on experience gained in the design of high-performance tyres for Original Equipment and for our technology partners in the performance tuning sector" explained Holger Berkmann, tyre development engineer at Continental.

Jan Fatthauer also set the record for the world's fastest convertible - again in a tuned Porsche fitted with ContiSportContact Vmax tyres - in October 2006, when he reached a speed of 380.5 km/h (237.8 mph).