Continental UltraContact NXT production begins

Continental has begun volume production of its “most sustainable series tyre to date” at its plant in Lousado, Portugal. The Continental UltraContact NXT contains up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and mass balance certified materials, and at the same time achieves an EU tyre label AAA rating with the best possible values for wet grip, rolling resistance and exterior noise.

Renewable materials account for up to 32 per cent of the total materials within UltraContact NXT and include resins based on residual materials from the paper and wood industries and silicate from the ash of rice husks, an agricultural waste product. As in every tyre, natural rubber is a key material within UltraContact NXT and contributes to the tyre’s strength and durability.

New logo – ‘Contains recycled materials’

A logo with the words ‘contains recycled materials’ is present on the sidewall of the Continental UltraContact NXT and underlines the use of up to five per cent recycled materials, including recycled rubber from mechanically processed end-of-life tyres. UltraContact NXT also contains recycled steel as well as polyester reinforcement fibres produced from PET bottles using ContiRe.Tex technology.

Mass Balance certified materials

When producing UltraContact NXT, Continental uses up to 28 per cent ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials. These are sustainable synthetic rubber and carbon black made from biobased, bio-circular and/or circular feedstock. The ISCC PLUS certification of the balance mechanism ensures transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain by tracking the origin and characteristics of raw materials, verifying compliance with sustainable criteria, and certifying the resulting products.

Edwin Goudswaard, Continental’s Head of R&D Car Tires Replacement, shares details about the materials within UltraContact NXT (photo: Tyrepress / Stephen Goodchild)

Moving towards greater sustainability

Continental says it is “working tirelessly” to advance innovative technologies and sustainable products and services throughout its entire value chain, from sourcing sustainable materials to recycling end-of-life tyres. By 2030 it aims to have an average of more than 40 per cent renewable and recycled content in its tyres and increase this to 100 per cent sustainable materials in all its tyre products by 2050 at the latest. The company considers UltraContact NXT an “important step to fulfil these ambitious sustainability goals and to become the most progressive tyre manufacturer,” as laid out in in the Continental Vision 2030 strategy.

Available for combustion & electric vehicles

UltraContact NXT is part of the 2022-launched UltraContact family. Continental will gradually introduce UltraContact NXT in Europe, with the first sizes arriving with tyre dealers soon.

Continental developed UltraContact NXT for both electric and combustion engines and it therefore bears the EV Compatible logo. Sizes will cover 16- to 20-inch rim diameters, with T, V, W and Y speed ratings available. The range will include fitments for popular vehicles such as the Kia Niro, VW ID.3, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Tesla Model 3, Audi Q4 E-TRON, Skoda Octavia, VW Golf 8, Audi A3 and many more.

UltraContact NXT (Image: Continental)