Continental has released details of its latest summer tire, the VanContact Ultra, aimed at delivery service and tradespeople’s vehicles.
To ensure the tire is capable of economical driving within urban environments, Continental designed the VanContact Ultra to deliver high mileage over the tire’s service life, with a robust and durable design and low rolling resistance.
During development, Continental focused on the tire’s sustainability credentials and utilized its latest generation of functionalized polymers within the compound. A closed outer shoulder on the tread helps to extend service life and reduces tire and road noise.
Revisions have also been made to prevent stone drilling. Continental has created stone stoppers in the two outer grooves of the tire’s tread, which prevent the teeth from intermeshing between the rubber and stones and ensure objects are ejected efficiently. Reinforced sidewalls increase durability and feature blocks to protect sensitive areas from curb damage.
In 2022, the tire maker will manufacture 20 different versions of the VanContact Ultra to suit rim diameters ranging from 15-17in and for load capacities up to 1,450kg. The tire has been approved for speeds up to 210km/h.
During EU tire label certification, the VanContact Ultra achieved a B rating for rolling resistance, an A rating for wet braking distance and a B rating for rolling noise.
