Conti unveils ‘most innovative’ North American market 4×4 tyre

Continental Tire the Americas has introduced what it calls its “most innovative SUV, crossover and light truck tyre to date,” the CrossContact LX20. Priorities when developing this all-season tyre were fuel economy and tread wear improvements along with competition-beating wet braking. In respect to this last-mentioned quality, Continental says that in an independent wet braking test the CrossContact LX20 in size 265/70R17 stopped 34 feet shorter than its leading competitor, Pirelli’s Scorpion STR A P265/70R17 113H.

The new tyre is described by its manufacturer as being a “top performer in rainy and snowy conditions.” Specifically, Continental points to strengths in wet traction – which it describes as “excellent” – shorter stopping distances on wet ground and increased traction and grip on snow. This shorter stopping in the wet and grip on snow comes courtesy of ‘Traction Grooves’, biting edges in the tyre’s grooves.

Fuel economy is promoted as superior to that delivered by competing products, and Continental reports that through the used of its EcoPlus Technology the CrossContact LX20 can save the average driver up to 2,500 miles of fuel over the life of the tyre. EcoPlus Technology, Continental explains, consists of two main components – Tg-F polymers and +Silane. The tyre maker elaborates that Tg-F polymers are temperature-activated functional polymers that increase compound bonding, thus improving the tyre’s wear and fuel efficiency. The second component, +Silane, is an additive that works to enhance the tyre’s grip on slippery roads and reduce stopping distances. “These technologies work together to enhance the driving experience for a long tyre life when conditions are normal, and to provide excellent wet braking on slippery roads,” the manufacturer reports.

“We’re fully committed to building advanced tyres and improving the environment – reducing CO2 emissions, reducing our waste and researching new and innovative ways to advance tyre technology,” said Bill Caldwell, vice president of sales and marketing, Continental Tire. “The fact that our customers ultimately keep more money in their wallets is frosting on the cake. We’ve created a cutting-edge tyre that helps to keep our world greener, that saves fuel and money and that is safer than the competition. We’re proud of this tyre and we’re happy to be able to offer our customers the features they demand in one tyre.”