Continental AG announced that it provided tyres to 18 of the world’s 20 highest-volume manufacturers of fully electric vehicles in 2024, demonstrating its strong position in the growing electric vehicle market.

The German tyre manufacturer said it supplies nine of the top 10 electric vehicle manufacturers in the three major regions: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); the Americas; and Asia-Pacific. These include major automotive companies such as BYD, Geely, Volkswagen, NIO, Mercedes-Benz and Renault.

“The high level of trust placed in Continental original equipment tyres by electric vehicle manufacturers worldwide confirms: We offer our customers an inspiring driving experience,” said Manja Greimeier, head of original equipment business in Continental’s Tyres group sector.

Continental highlighted that electric vehicles present specific challenges for tyre technology due to their heavier weight from batteries and instant torque when accelerating, which can lead to increased tyre wear. Additionally, the quieter operation of electric motors makes tyre noise more noticeable to drivers.

The company began optimising its tyres for these requirements long before electric vehicles became mainstream, introducing its first energy-efficient tyre line, the ContiEcoContact, in 1993. The recently launched seventh-generation EcoContact features specially designed sidewalls with “aerodimple” structures to reduce air turbulence and improve energy efficiency.

According to Continental, approximately one in five cars sold globally is now electrically powered, citing data from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

The tyre manufacturer reported that its tyres group sector generated sales of €13.9 billion in fiscal 2024, with Continental AG as a whole posting sales of €39.7 billion last year.

Lucid Motors has selected Hankook Tire’s EV-exclusive all-season tyre, the iON evo AS SUV, as original equipment (OE) for its all-new electric SUV, the Lucid Gravity, designed for the North American Market.

Through its partnership with Lucid Motors, Hankook Tire has unveiled the iON evo AS SUV as a high-performance all-season tyre designed especially for big electric SUVs. The tyre's next-generation compound design combines high-performance polymers, environmentally friendly components, and high-concentration silica to provide outstanding grip and improved mileage performance in a variety of driving circumstances throughout the year. Notably, the tyre's stiffness profile has been tuned to support the heavier EV battery packs while maintaining a consistent road contact pressure to improve driving stability.

Its tread shape also permits even wear, increasing the tyre's longevity. The tyres greatly reduce rolling resistance and efficiently reduce noise by carefully balancing the size and quantity of tread blocks. Drivers who want a dynamic driving experience may retain great energy economy thanks to this design's improvements.

The Lucid Gravity, a full-size, three-row SUV and Lucid Motors' second all-electric vehicle model, was just introduced in the US. The Lucid Gravity has a sleek body and an elegant interior. It has a range of more than 700 kilometres on a single charge, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.5 seconds and produces up to 828 horsepower in Grand Touring configuration. Actual results will vary depending on temperature, driving behaviour, battery state and charging.

Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), has launched the Firestone Affinity AS tyre, its latest touring tyre designed for mainstream sedans.

The Firestone Affinity AS tyre features a tread compound that safeguards against uneven and premature wear and comes with a limited warranty of up to 65,000 miles (approx. 104,607 km). It also helps limit road noise and vibration, while the unique tread pattern with diagonal and lateral sipes is designed to improve wet-weather traction and handling. Noise-silencing grooves in the tread pattern further help reduce noise and harshness while enhancing drivability.

An important addition to the Firestone touring collection, the Affinity AS tyre is positioned between the Firestone WeatherGrip and the entry-level all-season tyres. With no winter-specific certification, the Affinity AS tyre adds to Firestone's lineup and gives drivers who value consistent all-season performance another choice. Popular automobiles with rim widths ranging from 15 to 19 inches are designed to fit the Affinity AS tyre. At launch, there are nine fitments available. Throughout 2025, the 28 total fitments will be made available in a phased rollout. The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Impala SEL are among the vehicles whose Affinity AS tyres fit the best.

Brad Robison, Director – Consumer Product Strategy, Bridgestone Americas, said, "Our new touring offering, the Affinity AS tyre, is designed to deliver confident handling, a quiet ride and long wear life for mainstream sedans. With impressive wet-weather grip and longevity, the Affinity AS tyre is built for the drivers who appreciate strong performance and good value.”

Polestar has selected Continental’s SportContact 7 tyre as original equipment (OE) for its new electric SUV, the Polestar 3. The SUV will be fitted with 21-inch tyres in several key markets, including the UK and Ireland.

The tyre has an XL designation for greater load capacity and is authorised for speeds of up to 168 mph (approx 270 kmph). ContiSilent technology, which lowers interior noise and adds to the comfort that one would expect from a high-end EV, is a feature of the Polestar-approved models. The SportContact 7, available in two sizes (265/45 R21 108W XL and 295/40 R21 111W XL), offers a combination of improved stability, grip and rolling finesse.

Maximum driving safety and accurate handling are made possible by the SportContact 7 tyre in a variety of situations. Its creation was centred on maximising driving pleasure, cutting down on stopping distances and prolonging tyre life. In comparison to its predecessor, the tyre delivers a 17 percent gain in mileage, a six percent reduction in braking distance on dry roads and an eight percent shorter braking distance on wet roads.

Cycling tyre manufacturer Maxxis is set to upgrade its gravel tyre portfolio by introducing its new HYPR-X compound.

The new formulation combines technology from two existing Maxxis compounds: the low-rolling-resistance HYPR for road cycling and the race-winning MaxxSpeed for mountain biking applications.

According to Maxxis, the enhanced versions of its Receptor, Reaver, Rambler, and Ravager models will deliver “19 per cent better cornering traction and 25 per cent less rolling resistance” compared to their predecessors.

Technical improvements extend beyond the new compound. Maxxis implemented a stronger nylon material for the 120 TPI casing to increase tread durability. Sidewalls will incorporate the company’s EXO Protection technology to guard against cuts and abrasions. All models will be tubeless-ready.

The company has also refreshed the aesthetic design of these tyres, featuring updated branding on hot patches with grey and orange accents. In line with sustainability initiatives, the new range will ship in recyclable paper packaging, reducing plastic waste.

The phased rollout begins with the Reaver and Rambler models in 700X45C size, with additional sizes becoming available throughout the next three months. The Ravager and Receptor range is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2025.

Maxxis has directed customers to contact local dealers or visit their website for information on availability as products are released throughout the year.