Continental unveiled a new, high-efficiency tire at IAA Mobility in Germany. The new tire concept, the Conti CityPlus, increases energy efficiency by up to 10 percent, the company says. The results are lower emissions from combustion engine-powered cars and longer ranges for electric vehicles.
The unique approach Continental took with this new tire concept is in its focus. Most tire efficiency improvements are made through low rolling resistance under constant speeds. This tire focuses on the deformations and tread changes that happen in stop-and-go traffic, improving resistance to those losses.
The CityPlus is specifically aimed at urban markets where stop-and-go traffic is most common. The tire is optimized for the behaviors of vehicles in that type of driving environment, improving the range of most vehicles by about three percent–roughly 0.6 kWh per 100 kilometers / 62 miles.
The Conti CityPlus concept tire is based on Continental’s current EcoContact 6 series tire. The concept tire includes several modifications to reduce tire deformation during braking and acceleration. These include a reinforced carcass, a modified rubber compound, and a specially-designed tread pattern.
New construction design for a stiffer carcass was accomplished with a system of fillers and an optimized polymer network. The new V-shape pattern on the Conti CityPlus’ tread creates a stiffer pattern structure for less tread movement during stopping and accelerating.
During the IAA Mobility show, Continental is also showcasing its most sustainable series tire to-date. The Continental UltraContact NXT is the most sustainable production tire in the industry with up to 65 percent renewable, recycled, and IASCC Plus mass-balance-certified materials. Renewable materials alone comprise up to 32 percent of the tire’s materials. Resins from residual materials from the paper and wood industries, silicate from the ash of rice husks, and more are included.
Continental plans to have more than 40 percent renewable and recycled contents in its tires by 2030 and fully sustainable materials use in all of its products by 2050.
