Continental Tyres has recently introduced a new range of eco tyres which have been specifically designed in response to requests from the tyre maker’s OEM customers. Vehicle manufacturers it seems are experiencing changing requirements of their own; driven in part by changes in technology and legislation but also by the needs of both private motorists and commercial users. Continental Tyres has a well-established and respected history of creating environmentally-friendly products, and has risen to the occasion with the creation of the new ContiEcoContact 5 series from Continental Tyres.

According to Continental Tyres, the new ContiEcoContact 5 is specially optimized for low rolling resistance applications on their OEM customers’ new vehicles. The environmental benefit here is clear to see, because low rolling resistance tyres, of which Continental Tyres is a leading exponent, reduce fuel consumption. In turn, this reduces CO2 emissions as well as reducing fuel costs and helping to ease the consumption of irreplaceable fossil fuels. For Continental Tyres this is a design and manufacturing trend that is likely to be ongoing and to lead to the development of further eco tyres in due course.

Interestingly enough, whilst many products from Continental Tyres feature low rolling resistance, and although low rolling resistance is not new in itself, it is the requested levels of rolling resistance that is different in the new ContiEcoContact 5 from Continental Tyres. At the same time however, a stronger focus on rolling resistance has not in any way diminished the emphasis on safety which is a key feature of so many of the market-leading products created by Continental Tyres in its drive for constant innovation.

The new ContiEcoContact 5 from Continental Tyres has achieved a 20% reduction in rolling resistance when compared against the previous ContiEcoContact 3 tyre. At the same time mileage performance has improved by 12% according to sources at Continental Tyres. These significant improvements have been achieved by focusing on modifications to key areas of the tyres; namely the ‘grip’ zone, the ‘load’ zone, the ‘flexing’ zone and the ‘rigid’ zone. At the same time, the compound used and the tread pattern are also said to have contributed 2% to this reduction. The result of this is that rolling resistance has been cut while braking distances has been shortened in comparison with the previous model.