By means of various regulations, the EU intends to reduce both CO2 emissions and noise pollution from road traffic in the future. Also under discussion in conjunction is an “environmental label” aimed at informing consumers about tyre rolling resistance, as is a new requirement for reducing tyre/road noise. However Continental has voiced its concerns that the realisation of both targets in the scope envisioned by the EU would entail considerably compromising a tyre’s performance in terms of road safety.

“We, too, are very much endeavoured to effecting a continued and sustained improvement in the environmental compatibility of our products. Nonetheless, we explicitly advise against any one-sided approach at the expense of safety,” said Manfred Wennemer, Executive Board chairman of Continental AG. “A good tyre has to be balanced, that is, alongside other properties it must also offer the lowest possible rolling resistance and, at the same time, good braking properties. Anything else would represent a marked setback in terms of road safety. Not only motorists but also kids out at play, pedestrians and cyclists would also suffer in this case. What is more, a development in this direction would run counter to the European Road Safety Charter, in which the EU has committed itself to halving the number of traffic fatalities to 25,000 by 2010. That should, however, remain the overriding objective.”