There is one name that stands head and shoulders above any other when it comes to your driver safety – and in particular the history of tyre development. That company is Continental Tyres. It’s a bold statement to make, for sure, especially if you’re only familiar with Continental as just a tyre manufacturer, but the reality is that it’s not the only thing they do – not by a long chalk.
You may already know Continental as the world’s leading premium tyre manufacturer, but this is only a small part of their continued contribution to global automotive technology and safety solutions. You’d be surprised which cars you can find their tech in, all of which plays a significant role in improving your driver safety.
The standout leader in driver aids and safety technology
The Continental Group comprises five key automotive divisions that are recognised in their respective fields as world leaders; Chassis and Safety, Powertrain, Interior, ContiTech, and – of course – Tyres. These divisions undertake their own R&D (research and development), manufacturing, and distribution of driver aids and safety technology. They help to make all of our driving experiences better and safer. It’s why many high-end automotive manufacturers choose Continental components.
And so synonymous are Continental’s technologies with quality and reliability in the automotive industry, there’s a big chance that the car, SUV or 4×4 you drive has their technology fitted. Think TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) and energy efficient fuel injection systems, as well as digital dashboard consoles and infrared sensor systems to name a few.
At the forefront of tyre evolution
And of course there’s also their outstanding tyres, typically fitted as OE – Original Equipment – to one in three new cars that come of the production lines of Europe’s automotive manufacturers. These award-winning premium tyres provide UK motorists with unrivalled wet and dry weather braking performance. It’s little wonder that car magazines, Auto Express and evo, regularly award Continental products top marks following their summer and winter tyre tests.
The company’s technological expertise and groundbreaking approach is there for all to see. Over almost 150 years, Continental have created a track record of technical innovation. Much of this success is thanks to their investment in people, as well as an unflinching desire to achieve their ultimate automotive goal: That of “zero fatalities, zero injuries, zero accidents”. Their Vision Zero safety initiative sets the bar high, but is one they’re determined to make a reality.
The quest to make a more sustainable tyre
As if that wasn’t enough, Continental are also driving the need to develop a truly sustainable tyre – one designed to not only reduce their need for natural resources, but also lead the industry towards a much more environmentally friendly manufacturing process, setting a standard and expectation for their rivals that cannot be ignored.
It’s yet another example of Continental’s automotive safety leadership, one of many in a long line of technological innovation over nearly 150 years. There are so many milestones along their historic timeline, including:
1871: Founded in Hanover, Germany.
1908: Invent the detachable wheel rim – an innovation that helps to save time and effort when changing a tyre.
1921: Introduce the first giant pneumatic tyres that replace the solid tyres fitted to commercial vehicles.
1936: Synthetic rubber is introduced into the tyre manufacturing process, paving the way for today’s sophisticated compounds.
1960: The mass production of radial tyres begins.
1967: Opening of the (now legendary) Contidrom tyre testing facility.
1972: Continental launches the studless ContiContact winter tyre, paving the way for today’s exceptional winter tyre range.
1983: Continental hydromounts – the special bearing elements that are used for damping in engine noise and vibrations – are mass-produced for the automotive industry.
1997: The ISAD (Integrated Starter Alternator Damper) combines a vehicle’s starter and generator in a single unit, essential for hybrid propulsion systems that help to substantially reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
2003: Introduce the ContiSportContact™ 2 Vmax, the world’s first road tyre approved for speeds of up to 223 mph (360 km/h).
2007: Continental become one of the top five suppliers in the global automotive industry.
2008: Production of lithium-ion batteries for use in hybrid vehicles.
2010: The new ContiSportContact™ 5 P summer tyre is launched, specifically designed for high-performance sports cars and custom vehicles.
2011: Production of electric motors.
2012: Continental becomes the first automotive supplier to be granted a autonomous vehicle testing license in the state of Nevada, USA, ultimately paving the way for the phased introduction of fully autonomous vehicles.
2013: Sustainability: ‘ContiLifeCycle’ uses a globally unique combination of rubber recycling and truck tyre retreading. This sustainable solution extends the service life of tyres and considerably lowers costs.
2014: GreenTec Award winner for their co-development project RUBIN – Industrial Emergence of Natural Rubber from Dandelion – which has the potential to be a sustainable, alternative source of rubber.
2017: Continental introduce their new AllSeasonContact™ tyre.
Achievements all, no doubt, but there is one important milestone which has defined the modern tyre, and significantly contributed to saving many, many lives – the introduction of the first tyre with a patterned tread.
Tyre treads providing the grip that saves lives
The forerunner of the tyre tread that is commonplace today was introduced by Continental in 1904. This innovation is responsible for clearing water from between the tyre and the road, delivering the grip necessary for maintaining control in the wet.
And while all modern road tyres now have grooves, it’s when this is combined with high quality rubber compounds – like those used in the manufacture of Continental’s premium tyres – that UK motorists get a product that significantly reduces their stopping distances for safer, quicker braking and stopping.
For this reason – and more – many of the world’s leading automotive marques collaborate with Continental to create bespoke Original Equipment – so much so that one in every three new cars that roll off the production lines in Europe are fitted with their tyres.
And, just as the introduction of tyre treads proved to be so ground breaking in 1904, so too does Continental’s latest tyre technology concepts offer the promise of advancing and defining the future of global driver safety and tyre reliability, as the age of the electric car moves towards reality.
Continental: Delivering tomorrow’s technology today
In the not so distant future, we could well see ‘ContiSense’ technology fitted across Continental’s tyre range. It employs a multitude of tyre sensors that can super-accurately measure your tread depth, and tyre temperature.
If a problem is detected – such as when approaching illegal tread depth, or tyre overheating / damage – an alert can be automatically generated and sent to the motorist, thanks to the continual gathering and subsequent transmission of real-time data, achieved via sophisticated, electrically conductive rubber compounds.
Equally as impressive is ‘ContiAdapt’, a tyre safety technology that adjusts pressures, and the rim width. By doing so, the tyre’s contact patch with the road can be adapted to the prevailing road conditions. This advancement in tyre technology has the potential to be groundbreaking, since it could provide motorists with the essential grip they require exactly when needed – particularly when faced with the need to swerve, brake, or come to a safe stop.
From Continental’s view, each of these tyre technology concepts has the potential to positively contribute to automotive safety and mobility of the future. The anticipated acceleration in the uptake of electric vehicles, as well as the ever increasing possibility of the introduction of an autonomous vehicle network, means that tyres will need to be able to adapt to – and be optimised for – the characteristics and conditions of automated driving and electrification.
These two technologies are just the latest in a long line of Continental technologies that build on their highly successful, groundbreaking extended mobility solutions – including Self-Supporting Runflat (SSR), ContiSeal and ContiSilent tyres.
It is Continental’s hope that just as these three technologies are available throughout some of their premium tyre range (ContiSeal and ContiSilent, for example, can be found in the ContiEcoContact 5) so too ContiSense and ContiAdapt will become standard across their range of premium tyres of the not so distant future.
These developments, in conjunction with their electronic automotive safety technology, is driving the ambition to finally establish fully functioning, dependable autonomous cars, and the necessary infrastructure they require, with their world leading technologies incorporated into both vehicles and transport networks. It’s still early days, but the future of driving is exciting.
The vehicle interior of tomorrow could be akin to that which we find in the aircraft of today, providing motorists with a much more immersive, connected driving experience that takes responsibility for the more mundane aspects of driving. Continental already provide the technology for the self-parking functionality that many vehicles currently offer.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that tomorrow’s car will feature a digital cockpit that will be designed to integrate seamlessly with whichever road network infrastructure you happen to be on, no matter where in the world you want to drive. And while it’s true that we can’t be entirely sure where the next 150 years of premium tyre and electronic automotive technology development will lead to, it’s reasonable to believe that Continental may be leading the way.
Talk to Asda Tyres for impartial, expert advice
Just like Continental, at Asda Tyres we also have a long track record of providing the best tyres to UK drivers. No matter what – and how – you drive, we have the ideal fitting solution for you. So for impartial, expert tyre advice, and the right tyres for your vehicle, talk to our expert team today. Click here to live chat to one of our experts, or find your nearest fitting station.