Continental will showcase three new tyres for the bus and truck segment at IAA Transportation 2024, 17-22 September, in Hanover. The premium tyre manufacturer is focusing on efficient and sustainable solutions optimised for electric vehicles.

Visitors to the Continental booth will experience the new Conti EfficientPro 5 truck tyre, which boasts a 10 percent improvement in rolling resistance compared to its predecessor. It offers excellent energy efficiency, is rated with the EU tyre label Class A, and has outstanding braking performance.

Continental will also showcase its most sustainable tyre for city traffic to date: the Conti Urban NXT, which recently entered pilot production. Composed of an extremely high proportion of renewable, recycled, and ISCC PLUS mass balance-certified materials, coming in at 59%, its low rolling resistance makes it a game changer for electrified commercial vehicles.

With the Conti EcoPlus HT3+, Continental will present the latest iteration of its innovative trailer tyre, specifically designed for trailers with an electrified drive axle.

“We are continually making our tyre solutions for commercial vehicles more sustainable and efficient both in terms of materials and on the road,” says Holger Lange, Head of Research and Development for Truck and Bus Tyres at Continental, adding: “The Conti EfficientPro 5 offers excellent energy efficiency, reducing consumption, lowering fleet costs and helping to protect the environment. The Conti Urban NXT is Continental’s most sustainable commercial-vehicle tyre to date.”

Conti EfficientPro 5: A New Benchmark in Efficiency

Continental has drastically cut the rolling resistance of the Conti EfficientPro 5 by 10 percent compared to its predecessor within Class A of the EU tyre label. This significant technological leap will help customers save fuel and further reduce CO2 emissions.

The tyre’s tread’s special rubber compound, combined with its rigid profile, helps reduce rolling resistance, extending mileage by around five percent compared to the predecessor model. The tyre’s profile provides a secure grip and superior tracking. Its especially low external rolling noise level (EU tyre label Class A) means that the Conti EfficientPro 5 is EU Taxonomy-eligible.

“We have improved the rolling resistance of the Conti EfficientPro 5 by a full 10 percent compared with its predecessor within Class A of the EU tyre label. This is a major technological leap that will help our customers save fuel and further reduce CO2 emissions,” says Leo Kolodziej, Head of the Original Equipment Business for Truck Tyres for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Continental. The experts at Continental have achieved this without making any sacrifices in terms of running and wet braking performance. “This is impressive because very low rolling resistance and very high braking performance are competing aims under the laws of physics,” explains Kolodziej.

The Conti EfficientPro 5 is designed for trucks with both combustion engines as well as hybrid or purely electric drives. It will be commercially available from the start of 2025, initially in the two sizes 315/70 R 22.5 and 385/55 R 22.5. Additional sizes will be added in due course.

Ford, Iveco, Scania, and Volvo, manufacturers of long-haul trucks, will be exhibiting the tyres on their display vehicles at this year’s IAA.

Conti Urban NXT: Boosting Sustainability in City Traffic

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), one in six new buses exceeding 3.5 tons that were registered in 2023 were partially or fully electrified. Continental is responding to this trend with the Conti Urban NXT – a new original equipment tyre designed for city transport. It combines a high proportion of sustainable materials with exceptional energy efficiency, making it ideal for electrified city buses and delivery vehicles. The pre-production version of the all-season tyre will be on display at IAA Transportation, with a market launch planned for 2025. It will initially be available in the size 275/70 R 22.5.

With up to 59 percent renewable, recycled, and ISCC PLUS mass balance-certified materials, the Conti Urban NXT has a very high share of sustainable materials. Up to 25 percentage points more than the average share of renewable and recycled materials used in Continental’s commercial-vehicle tyres. For the Conti Urban NXT, Continental has allocated up to 24 percent ISCC PLUS mass balance-certified materials, i.e., sustainable synthetic rubber and carbon black from bio-based, bio-circular, and/or circular raw materials. The proportion of recycled materials is three percent. This includes recycled rubber originating from mechanically processed end-of-life tyres as well as recycled steel. The Conti Urban NXT has a sustainable raw materials content of 32 percent, consisting mainly of natural rubber.

The Conti Urban NXT’s rolling resistance has been reduced by 25% versus the comparable Conti Urban HA3 model. This translates into lower CO2 emissions for combustion-engine vehicles and an increased battery range of up to 15 percent for electric vehicles. High-density interlocking sipes ensure a secure grip, superior tracking, and excellent braking performance, both in wet conditions and throughout the tyre's service life. The specially developed rubber compound reduces tyre abrasion and enhances resistance against cuts, cracks, chips, and breakage. The mileage of the Conti Urban NXT is also around 15 percent higher than the predecessor model. Boasting very low external rolling noise, the Conti Urban NXT is an EU Taxonomy-eligible tyre and thus perfectly tailored to the requirements of electric vehicle fleets.

Conti EcoPlus HT3+: Designed for Electric Drive Axles

Another development Continental is set to showcase at this year’s IAA Transportation: the Conti EcoPlus HT3+. This tyre – which is specifically designed for trailers with electrified drive axles – offers exceptionally balanced performance in terms of traction and rolling resistance and an especially high load capacity. The tyre’s features are specifically geared to new-generation trailers featuring fully electric drive axles. Accordingly, the tyre’s load capacity has been increased by 500 kilograms per axle to enable a constant payload despite the higher net weight resulting from the battery. The company had unveiled the prototype back in 2022. Continental is the exclusive development partner for this innovative trailer concept from the company Trailer Dynamics. The aim is to hybridise tractor trucks with battery-powered electric trailers, reducing their fuel consumption and thus their CO2 emissions.

The siping tyre tread profile of the Conti EcoPlus HT3+ has been designed specifically with traction in mind, while an innovative rubber compound provides a balanced combination of grip and mileage. As a result, the tyre ensures maximum safety in all weather conditions. The tyre, which can not only be used on electrified trailer axles but also fitted as an all-round tyre, will initially be available in the sizes 355/50 R 22.5, 385/65 R 22.5, and 385/55 R 22.5. Market launch is scheduled for early 2026.

Continental's new tyre developments presented at IAA Transportation are in keeping with its “Lowest Overall Driving Costs” (LODC) advisory approach. The goal is to provide the transport industry with an effective lever to withstand increasing cost pressure and make its fleets more sustainable.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has responded positively to the 'Berlin Declaration’, characterising it as an essential and long-awaited political signal. From the wdk's perspective, the declaration represents a crucial commitment from the ‘Friends of Industry’ to bolster the manufacturing sector, which is fundamental to preserving Germany's industrial core and the multitude of upstream and downstream jobs it sustains. The association's Managing Director, Boris Engelhardt, emphasised that this initiative correctly identifies the urgent need for Europe to recognise and champion industrial value creation.

The wdk finds it particularly significant that the impetus for this declaration originated from a coalition of 17 member states, a fact that underscores a shared political priority independent of the EU Commission's agenda. While the declaration's broad framework allows for various interpretations, the wdk has identified the reduction of bureaucratic burdens as its paramount objective. On this specific point, the association reports being in complete alignment with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche. The wdk now asserts that the true measure of the declaration's success will lie in its translation from a political statement into actionable policy, urging the addressed EU institutions to move beyond acknowledgment and proceed with swift and decisive implementation.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Japanese chemicals maker Zeon Corporation raised its full-year operating profit forecast after first-quarter earnings more than doubled, driven by robust demand for battery materials and optical films.

The Tokyo-based company, which produces speciality plastics and synthetic rubbers, posted operating income of 12.1 billion yen ($83.3 million) for the three months to June 30, up 136 percent from the previous quarter and 59 percent higher year-on-year.

Net sales declined 2 percent to 103.1 billion yen from a year earlier, affected by yen appreciation and lower elastomer prices reflecting declining raw material costs. However, sales volumes of optical films and battery materials increased during the period.

The company revised its full-year operating income forecast upwards to 30.5 billion yen from a previous estimate of 28 billion yen. However, this still represents a 9 percent decline from the prior year. Full-year sales are now expected to reach 415 billion yen, up 4 percent.

Zeon maintained its annual dividend forecast at 72 yen per share and said it is proceeding with a share buyback programme of up to 10 million shares or 10 billion yen for the current fiscal year.

The speciality materials business, which includes optical plastics, films and battery materials, generated operating income of 7.4 billion yen in the first quarter, jumping 40 percent year-on-year. Sales in the division fell 3 percent to 29.3 billion yen, partly due to timing differences at overseas affiliates related to the Chinese New Year.

Demand for battery materials remained steady, supported by China’s electric vehicle subsidy policies, whilst shipments to the United States energy storage systems market began during the quarter. The company said European EV sales showed signs of recovery, though inventory adjustments were prolonged.

In optical films, shipments increased due to expanded market share in large-sized televisions, whilst demand remained steady for tablet and smartphone applications.

The elastomer business posted operating income of 4.2 billion yen, up 12 percent from a year earlier, though sales were flat at 58.1 billion yen. The division was affected by weak overseas demand and lower selling prices caused by falling raw material costs.

Zeon also announced plans to sell a portion of its investment securities between August 2025 and March 2026, expecting to book a gain of approximately 10.9 billion yen to improve capital efficiency. The move is expected to reduce its cross-shareholdings ratio to around 11-12 percent of net assets by the end of the fiscal year.

The company said it had completed a reorganisation in June, transferring its chemicals business to the speciality materials division to accelerate decision-making and maximise profitability.

For the second half of the year, Zeon cautioned that optical film shipments are expected to decline due to panel production adjustments and seasonal mobile device demand. However, it described the adjustment as temporary with growth anticipated in fiscal 2026.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Continental is redefining adventure riding for a new generation with the launch of the TKC 80², a complete re-imagining of its legendary TKC 80 tyre. After four decades, this isn't a simple update but a fundamental redesign crafted for today's powerful and heavy adventure motorcycles. It answers a clear call from riders who are increasingly drawn to uncharted paths, yet refuse to sacrifice performance on the journey there. The TKC 80² is engineered to be an uncompromising partner for this dual-purpose lifestyle.

Its performance begins with a cleverly engineered tread. The pattern uses larger, strategically shifted blocks that create more biting edges for superior grip in dirt, sand and gravel. This design also actively resists clogging, ensuring consistent performance where other tyres might pack up with mud. Stability is enhanced through a larger contact area, inspiring confidence whether carving a paved corner or navigating a rocky trail. The logic even extends to direction: the front tread is angled to dig in during braking, while the rear is designed in the opposite way to maximise acceleration traction without excessive digging.

Beneath the tread, a new carcass provides the backbone. It is specifically calibrated for a balanced 50/50 use, offering the robust stability needed for a loaded bike at high speeds or on demanding off-road sections while also improving ride comfort through optimised damping. An advanced rubber compound tackles the classic trade-off, delivering aggressive grip across diverse surfaces while also promising remarkable longevity and wear resistance. This is complemented by RainGrip technology, which instils confidence by maintaining secure handling when the weather turns cold and wet.

Built for epic journeys on every continent and backed by robust puncture protection, the TKC 80² is for those who ride without limits. To fit a broad spectrum of modern travel enduros from brands like BMW, KTM and Ducati, it will be produced in multiple sizes. With its distinct new sidewall icon, the Continental TKC 80² will be available at specialist retailers starting in Spring 2026.

Raphael Michels, Product Manager for Motorcycle Tires at Continental, said, “Our new flexible rubber compound adapts perfectly to the micro-roughness of the asphalt, providing excellent grip. At the same time, we’ve worked intensively to resolve the conflict between on- and off-road performance in the best possible way. The tyre tread combines maximum flexibility for safe wet grip with high block stiffness for stability and mechanical grip.”

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires at Continental, said, “With the TKC 80², we’re setting new standards in terms of versatility, robustness and off-road performance. The combination of innovative tread design, new rubber compound and optimised carcass offers adventure riders maximum safety, control and riding pleasure on a wide variety of terrains.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bridgestone has confirmed a January 2026 launch for its new premium sports motorcycle tyre, the BATTLAX RACING STREET RS12, in North America. Developed under the concept ‘From Circuit to Street,’ this road-legal tyre is engineered to deliver the highest level of dry grip within the BATTLAX lineup by directly incorporating technologies refined in competitive racing.

The RS12 features a specialised compound derived from race tyre development, which works in concert with a newly designed tread pattern. This pattern’s optimised groove ratio enhances overall tyre rigidity and increases the contact area during cornering for superior grip. A significant innovation for the front tyre is the introduction of the HE-MS BELT structure, a technology previously reserved for top-tier global motorcycle races. This flexible belt system equalises contact pressure to provide a further boost in traction.

By integrating these endurance-racing technologies, the RS12 achieves comprehensive performance improvements on the circuit, with a primary focus on dry conditions. The result is a notable reduction in lap times compared to its predecessor, the RS11. Furthermore, the synergistic combination of its compound, pattern and structure ensures that the high grip level is consistently maintained over multiple laps, resisting performance degradation. This gives riders confidence and a more engaging experience across diverse riding scenarios, from aggressive sport riding on dry pavement to tackling winding roads and dedicated track days.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!