Greater Tire Energy Efficiency in Urban Traffic: Conti CityPlus Concept Tire Premieres at IAA Mobility

Hanover, Germany, September 4, 2023. At IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, Continental has unveiled its new tire concept Conti CityPlus. This state-of-the-art tire technology increases the total energy efficiency of a tire by up to 10 percent. The results are lower CO₂ emissions from passenger cars with combustion engines and longer driving ranges for electric vehicles. This was achieved by optimizing the tire behavior during stop-and-go traffic in urban driving situations, increasing the range of passenger cars by up to 3 percent 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 tire ever seen in the industry: Continental’s UltraContact NXT. With up to 65 percent renewable, recycled and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials, it has the highest share of sustainable materials ever seen in a production tire. All of its 19 sizes were awarded the highest EU tire label ratings for wet grip, pass-by noise and rolling resistance. Both tires exemplify the holistic approach that Continental – as a premium tire manufacturer – is pursuing to become the most progressive tire company when it comes to sustainability.

“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 tire. 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 tire to date. It combines a high proportion of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance.”

Urban traffic is characterized by constant stop and go. This causes torsional deformation of the tires 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 tires. “We believe that it is important to look at the energy efficiency of tires as a whole. This includes free rolling as well as braking and acceleration. The result is up to ten percent greater energy efficiency with the same rolling resistance levels,” explains Kreipe.

The Conti CityPlus is based on Continental's EcoContact 6 series tire. It has been specially engineered to offer high mileage and low rolling resistance. To achieve higher overall energy efficiency, the concept tire 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 optimized polymer network in the rubber compound also contribute to the tire’s high overall energy efficiency.

When developing energy-efficient tires, tire engineers and material experts have up until now focused on optimizing a tire’s rolling resistance during free rolling at a constant speed. This approach has enabled Continental to minimize the rolling resistance of the passenger car tires in its portfolio in total by an average of 25 percent over the past decade.