Continental's new ContiTread, a retread product manufactured by Marangoni with the same rubber compounding, tread designs and fuel-saving technologies as new Continental tires, will be available in the U.S. and Canada for fleet customers through current Continental and MTNA dealers. In Mexico, Continental is developing a total retreading business model for its dealers that will include setups of retread operations with Marangoni equipment, and sales of the ContiTread products.

ContiTreads will be available in designs based on the Continental HDL Eco Plus (Heavy Drive Long-Haul) and the HTL Eco Plus (Heavy Trailer Long-Haul) tires, both of which are certified for increased fuel efficiency through the U.S. EPA SmartWay program.

ContiTread products are initially available using Ringtread technology, a retread in the form of a ring that is cured in a centripetal press. This summer, Continental will launch ContiTread Premium Cut -To- Length treads, a flat tread that fits the tire casing perfectly with no waste in tread rubber.

"Continental customers choose our truck tires for their innovations in tread design, exceptional performance in fuel efficiency, and advanced tread compounds," said Paul Williams, executive vice president of CTNA - The Americas, commercial vehicle tire division. "But the lifecycle of these benefits should not end when the casing is retreaded. Today with ContiTread, customers will be able to receive a retread product that can last through multiple lifetimes and is produced with the same treads and technologies as their new Continental truck tires.

"By using the tread designs and advanced compounding of the HDL Eco Plus and HTL Eco Plus tires, ContiTreads will be one of the least rolling resistant, and therefore, most fuel-efficient, retread products on the market today," said Williams.

"ContiTreads not only look the same as new Continental tires, but they will perform like new tires and still provide excellent fuel economy. You should never have to expect anything less throughout the entire lifecycle of a tire," Williams said.

Continental chose Marangoni to produce the ContiTread product based on its expertise as one of the world's most technologically advanced retreading manufacturers, Williams said. In Europe, the parent companies Continental AG and Marangoni S.p.A. have a tread rubber manufacturing cooperation which also includes production of private label tires for Italy.

About Continental
With sales exceeding €24 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires 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. The corporation employs nearly 140,000 at approximately 190 locations in 35 countries.

For media information on Continental, visit www.ctnamedia.com

About Marangoni
Marangoni S.p.A. is a worldwide leader in retreading technology and systems. Marangoni Tread N.A. manufacturers and distributes its premium retread product RINGTREAD® through RINGTREAD Dealers, a network of independent tire dealers across North America. RINGTREAD is a spliceless, contoured procure tread that excels in mileage, reliability and wear characteristics. The contour of the RINGTREAD is designed to match the natural curvature of a casing to maintain balance, cool running and even wear. RINGTREAD is available in multiple tread designs, based on application demands, for optimum performance. The revolutionary process of eliminating the tread splice in precure treads eliminates a weak spot, a heavy spot and likely place for contamination leading to failure. RINGTREAD has been manufactured and distributed in Europe, by Marangoni since 1976 and manufactured in the U.S. since 2004.