At IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, Continental has unveiled its new tyre concept Conti CityPlus.
UltraContact NXT – Continental Most Sustainable Series Tyre
This state-of-the-art tyre technology increases the total energy efficiency of a tyre by up to 10 per cent. The results are lower CO2 emissions from passenger cars with combustion engines and longer driving ranges for electric vehicles. This was achieved by optimising the tyre behaviour during stop-and-go traffic in urban driving situations, increasing the range of passenger cars by up to 3 per cent as a result. This correspondents to savings of 0.6 kWh per 100 kilometers for electric vehicles.
At the IAA Mobility, Continental will also be presenting the most sustainable series tyre ever seen in the industry: Continental’s UltraContact NXT. With up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials, it has the highest share of sustainable materials ever seen in a production tyre. All of its 19 sizes were awarded the highest EU tyre label ratings for wet grip, pass-by noise and rolling resistance.
“We have set ourselves ambitious sustainability goals. At IAA we present the latest technological advances exemplifying our immense material competence. The Conti CityPlus technology reduces the total energy consumption of a tyre. We see great potential, especially for electric vehicles, where every kilometer of range counts,” says Klaus Kreipe, who heads Continental Tires’ original equipment business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He adds: “The UltraContact NXT is the most sustainable series tyre to date. It combines a high proportion of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance.”
Urban traffic is characterised by constant stop and go. This causes torsional deformation of the tyres in response to the applied torque, causing energy to dissipate in the process. The Conti CityPlus technology is designed to improve total energy efficiency under these kinds of driving conditions. This is especially beneficial for electric vehicles because their higher torque and weight additionally amplify energy loss in tyres.
The Conti CityPlus is based on Continental’s EcoContact 6 series tyre. It has been specially engineered to offer high mileage and low rolling resistance. To achieve higher overall energy efficiency, the concept tyre includes a range of modifications designed to reduce tire deformation during braking and acceleration. These include a specially designed tread pattern, newly constructed carcass, and modified rubber compound. The tread strip features a special V-shape pattern, which creates a stiffer pattern structure. In addition, a new construction method results in a stiffer carcass which reduces tire deformation. The special system of fillers and an optimised polymer network in the rubber compound also contribute to the tyre’s high overall energy efficiency.
When developing energy-efficient tyres, tyre engineers and material experts have up until now focused on optimizing a tyre’s rolling resistance during free rolling at a constant speed. This approach has enabled Continental to minimise the rolling resistance of the passenger car tyres in its portfolio in total by an average of 25 per cent over the past decade.
With the UltraContact NXT, Continental is also displaying the most sustainable series tyre ever seen in the industry. Production started in July this year at Continental‘s tyre plant in Lousado, Portugal. There will be a total of 19 sizes available. With up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and mass-balance-certified materials, the tyre combines a high proportion of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance. The proportion of renewable materials is as high as up to 32 per cent. This includes, for example, resins based on residual materials from the paper and wood industries as well as silicate from the ash of rice husks. Recycled materials such as polyester fibers made from recycled PET bottles by ContiRe. Tex technology account for up to 5 per cent. In addition, Continental obtains up to 28 per cent ISCC PLUS mass-balance-certified materials from biobased, bio-circular and/or circular feedstock.
All dimensions of the UltraContact NXT have the top marks in the EU tire label (“A”) in the areas of rolling resistance, wet braking, and external noise. The tire was designed for both electric and combustion engines, offering the highest label efficiency and optimum mileage performance. Continentals most sustainable series tyre to date therefore bears the EV Compatible logo and will be available for various popular vehicles like the Kia Niro, VW ID.3, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Tesla Model 3, Audi Q4 E-TRON, Skoda Octavia, VW Golf 8, Audi A3 and many more.
Continental is working continuously to advance innovative technologies and sustainable products and services throughout its entire value chain, from sourcing sustainable materials to recycling end-of-life tyres. By 2030, the tyre manufacturer aims to have over 40 percent renewable and recycled content in its tyres. Continental is continuing its drive toward 100 per cent sustainable materials in all its tyre products by 2050 at the latest.
