Continental, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, is celebrating 90 years of developing and producing winter tyres. The German company launched its first winter-specific tyre, the Gelände, in 1934, pioneering safety and performance in cold-weather driving conditions.

Today, Continental’s winter tyres, including the award-winning WinterContact TS 870, feature advanced tread patterns and specialised rubber compounds that deliver superior grip, braking and handling on snow, ice, and wet roads. The German automobile association ADAC recently recognised the TS 870 as a test winner for its precise and safe driving performance across various road conditions.

“For 90 years, our winter tyres have been synonymous with safety in winter weather conditions. Softer rubber compounds improve adhesion, while sipes provide grip on snow and ice. And wider grooves displace water particularly effectively,” explains Martin Welzhofer, Head of Global Tire Testing at Continental Tires. “We put our winter tyres through their paces during testing on snow and ice, in Germany and Sweden.”

Decades of Progress in Winter Safety

Continental’s winter tyres are specifically engineered to handle harsh weather. Compared to summer tyres, they provide significant safety advantages. In recent tests conducted by UK trade magazine Tyre Review, the WinterContact TS 870 P demonstrated remarkable braking performance. When braking hard from 40 km/h on snow, the winter tyre stopped in just 18.25 metres, while a summer tyre took 44.18 metres — a difference of nearly six car lengths.

Similar results were observed on ice. During emergency braking from 25 km/h, the WinterContact TS 870 P stopped in 11.13 metres, whereas the summer tyre required 32.19 metres — almost three times the distance.

This performance is attributed to Continental’s advanced tread design and rubber compounds. The softer, more flexible winter tyre compound enhances grip at low temperatures, while optimised tread grooves and sipes improve traction and water displacement.

Rigorous Testing for Maximum Safety

Ensuring safety remains Continental’s top priority. Each new winter tyre undergoes extensive testing, covering up to 500,000 kilometres across 20 disciplines before being brought to market. The tyres are assessed for traction, braking, cornering stability, and directional control on dry, wet, and snow-covered roads. Noise levels, fuel efficiency, and overall driving comfort are also evaluated.

Testing takes place under extreme conditions. At Continental’s test site in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle, engineers measure performance on snow and ice, collecting over 60,000 individual data points each winter. Vehicles complete thousands of manoeuvres, including starts, cornering and braking on icy surfaces.

Closer to home, the company’s Contidrom test site near Hanover features an indoor ice track that operates year-round. Here, tyres are tested under varying temperatures to assess rubber compound behaviour in freezing conditions. Continental’s automated braking test facility further ensures precision by evaluating tyre performance on wet and dry surfaces without a driver.

A Legacy of Innovation

Continental’s journey in winter tyre development began in 1934 with the Gelände, one of the world’s first tyres designed for snow, ice, and slush. By 1953, the company’s M+S winter tyres had proven their capability by enabling vehicles to cross the snow-covered Gotthard Pass in the Alps safely.

Today, Continental continues to push boundaries, refining its tyre technologies and materials to ensure optimal safety and performance. Models such as the WinterContact TS 870 undergo relentless testing in Sweden’s icy landscapes and the Contidrom’s controlled environments.

With 90 years of experience, Continental remains at the forefront of winter tyre innovation, delivering safer driving experiences for motorists navigating treacherous winter roads.

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Tegeta Green Planet opened the Light Vehicle Diagnostics course at Tegeta Academy with a presentation for attendees aged 17 to 33. Beyond their chosen vocational field, participants learned about automotive waste management and environmental responsibility.

Shalva Akhvlediani, the organisation’s director, outlined its activities and goals while emphasising Extended Producer Responsibility. The session examined how the automotive sector connects to environmental duty and why used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries must be collected and managed properly.

Tyre management and RECSOL featured prominently. Attendees traced a used tyre’s path from collection to recycling and learned how waste becomes a source of new resources. RECSOL, Tegeta’s tyre recycling plant, is a significant infrastructure project in used tyre recycling, processing tyres into materials for various uses and supporting circular economy principles.

A core aim is a system where waste is not an endpoint but the starting point for new resources, which requires infrastructure alongside greater public awareness and information on proper disposal. For participants, the meeting linked professional education with environmental awareness, stressing that future automotive professionals should understand this responsibility early.

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Tyres Europe, alongside ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) and CLEPA (the European Association of Automotive Suppliers), has dispatched a joint communication to EU decision-makers concerning the possible broadening of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover downstream goods. The move comes as trilogue discussions approach.

Tyre producers form part of an automotive value chain already bearing carbon-related expenses for steel and aluminium manufactured within Europe. The proposed expansion would draw additional products into the mechanism’s remit before the existing framework has demonstrated its effectiveness. Resulting costs and administrative requirements would land on downstream manufacturers, tyre makers included, with signatories cautioning that a conceptually sound regulatory effort could become an operational and financial strain.

Endorsing the mechanism’s aims, the signatories nonetheless urge a proportionate scope that shields the entire value chain from carbon leakage while preventing that risk from being pushed further downstream. They advocate extending the mechanism only where a material carbon-leakage danger is evidenced, and request that policymakers ease compliance demands, including via more fitting default values mirroring real production routes.

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NEXEN TIRE has extended its partnership with Zalgiris, reinforcing its commitment to basketball in Europe, particularly across the Baltic region. The renewal builds on a relationship that began in 2024 and reflects the company’s broader strategy of linking its brand to performance, innovation and mobility.

The tyre maker has pursued sports partnerships as a way to connect with fans, sharing in the passion and excitement of supporting favourite teams during major matches and memorable moments. It also values the teamwork, dedication and collective achievement that define team sports, using such ties to build authentic connections and deepen engagement in key European markets. Its collaboration with clubs including Zalgiris and FC Bayern München forms part of this approach.

Under the extended agreement, NEXEN TIRE will gain greater visibility among sports fans in the region. The partnership offers branding opportunities at Zalgirio Arena, such as synchronised on-screen advertising and promotion on LED stands near the court, in a position visible on television during EuroLeague and LKL home games.

The arrangement also includes a hospitality programme allowing NEXEN TIRE to welcome guests and business partners at Zalgiris home fixtures. Through the strengthened alliance, the company aims to share its passion with more fans while raising brand awareness across the region.

Ricky Lee, Managing Director, NEXEN TIRE Poland, said, “Our cooperation with Zalgiris has developed positively since 2024, and we are pleased to extend and strengthen this partnership. Basketball has a particularly strong following in the Baltic region, making Zalgiris an important partner as we continue to grow our presence and engage with fans. We look forward to supporting the team throughout the season and doing our best to create positive experiences for both the players and their passionate fans.”

Paulius Jankunas, President, Zalgiris, said, “We are delighted to continue our cooperation with NEXEN TIRE and build on the partnership we started two years ago. NEXEN TIRE brings extensive experience in sports marketing, and we are proud to work together on creating meaningful projects and experiences for our fans. We look forward to another successful period of cooperation and to welcoming NEXEN TIRE’s guests and partners to our games and events.”

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres through wholesale and franchise operations, has widened its tyre portfolio through the addition of four new lines under the Multi-Mile Tyres banner. Serving as a value step-up brand, Multi-Mile gives dealers a strong mix of broader product coverage and improved consumer advantages crafted to drive better retail margins, helping retailers offer greater value while lifting profitability. With this expansion, the portfolio now reaches over 85 percent of the vehicle market, offering dealers more ways to satisfy customer demand.

Among the additions are tyres built for rugged and mud terrain use, boasting self-cleaning treads that push out mud and stones alongside dependable traction both on and off the road. Also joining the range are commercial and C-metric speciality tyres tailored to heavy-duty regional and long-haul trucks, together with all-weather tyres that hold the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe snow rating and are made for high mileage and consistent year-round use.

A prominent name in the replacement tyre segment, Multi-Mile carries cutting-edge touring, high-performance and broad-line tyres suited to passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Meanwhile, the upgraded Mile After Mile Protection Plan warranty now delivers broader coverage, adding three-year roadside assistance, a three-year road hazard protection plan and a 60-day ride guarantee on top of its extensive treadwear warranties.

Rachel Tibor, Chief Marketing Officer, TBC Wholesale, said, “For more than 70 years, Multi-Mile products have offered cost-efficient, reliable and durable tyre options that enhance safety and performance. With this expanded portfolio, Multi-Mile strengthens its position as a value step-up brand, giving dealers more opportunities to meet evolving consumer needs while offering a product mix designed to support stronger retail margins. We’re continuing our longstanding tradition of supplying the right products at the right time for every type of vehicle and application.”

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