Conti.eContact - ready to roll for hybrid vehicles

Tyre manufacturer Continental has taken the Conti.eContact which was originally launched in 2011 with electric vehicles in mind, and refined it to meet the needs of hybrid models, writes Trish Whelan.

Continental believe hybrids could account for as much as 8 percent of vehicles by 2020.

With this in mind, the Conti.eContact features a range of newly developed technologies and is also the first tyre in the range to obtain the top A label rating on the EU Tyre Label for both wet grip and rolling resistance.

This new tyre comes with a 20 percent reduction in rolling resistance, thanks to the newly developed Green Chili compound. The silica compound of the new tyre is constructed in such a way that the internal friction of the filler particles and the polymers is lower than in conventional rubber compounds. This results in lower rolling resistance, whilst maintaining the highest level of handling and braking performance when pushed to the limit.

The sidewalls of the new tyre have also been redesigned with a focus on minimising aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance.

Hybrid vehicles are virtually silent when run in electric mode. As tyre noise is no longer drowned out by other sources of noise such as a conventional engine, it's all the more noticeable. This new tyre has been designed to generate minimal audible noise in the cabin, achieved with the aid of ContiSilent technology, a thin layer of polyurethane foam attached to the inside of the tread that reduces the vibrations that are generated as the tyre rolls across the surface of the road.

The Conti.eContact will have a 'BlueEco' logo on the sidewall and be available in six sizes for 17 and 18-inch rims, specially designed for models like the BMW 5 series ActiveHybrid, Lexus LS 600h and Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. It will also be available for other cars and SUVs with hybrid drive.