Continental has announced the launch of its fifth-generation Conti Eco tyre range for both regional and long-haul freight transportation. The new tyres, which have been designed to resolve the conflicting goals of optimised rolling resistance and high mileage, have been geared to satisfy the needs of customers in the transport sector operating in a dynamic regulatory environment. As such, the Conti Eco Gen 5 tyre range meets all the requirements of the EU Taxonomy for fleets.
New Tyre Solves Conflict Between Fuel Efficiency and Mileage Performance
The completely newly developed truck tyres allow haulage companies to significantly reduce their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in both regional and long-distance operations are available now in many countries across the EMEA region – in Conti Eco HS 5 form for the tractor unit’s steer axle and Conti Eco HD 5 form for the drive axle.
Continental says it has been working intensively on the development of the new product line for several years, with extensive testing completed prior to market launch. “We are in no doubt that we are offering our customers the right tyre at the right time,” commented Ferdinand Hoyos, Head of Continental’s Business Area Replacement Tires EMEA.
Indeed, rising operating and personnel costs, as well as investment in sustainability and a rapidly changing legal landscape, are among the most frequently cited challenges for fleet operators in Europe. A recent study conducted by Boston Consulting for the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) shows that cost is still the leading decision factor, but that sustainability factors are gaining in importance as a purchasing criterion – in both the OE and replacement business.
“Sustainability and cost efficiency have long gone hand in hand at Continental,” explains Hoyos. “And interest in this area is now growing all the time across the market, which lends extra weight to our strategy.”
In developing the fifth-generation Conti Eco, Continental has reduced the number of tyre lines for freight transportation. The new tyre builds on its two predecessors – the Conti EcoPlus Gen3+ for long-distance haulage and the Conti EcoRegional Gen3+ for regional transport, bringing together the best qualities of the two tyres by optimising both rolling resistance and higher mileage capability.
In developing the new tyres, the company says it has concentrated on mileage-neutral measures to improve rolling resistance across all components – in the construction of the casing, the treads and the design of the overall contour and tread.
The treads, with their two-layer construction (cap base), enable a high mileage and considerable robustness while also optimising rolling resistance. On the steer axle, a thicker under-tread reduces rolling resistance – but it also enables the use of tread compounds with a focus on extending mileage.
Meanwhile, on the the drive axle, an optimised shoulder design with an innovative sipe form in the tread shoulder area plays a key role in promoting even tyre wear – which also has a positive effect on mileage.
In the casing, several compound components and a new bead geometry are tailored to optimise rolling resistance. These measures, says Continental, combine to produce an up to 12 percent improvement in rolling resistance and an up to 10 percent increase in mileage over the two predecessor products. Overall, the company says that replacing the outgoing EcoRegional HS 3+/ HD 3+ with the new Conti Eco HS 5/ HD 5 tyres across a fleet of 100 vehicles covering around 80,000 km per year in regional use can save up to € 69.000 and 120 metric tons of CO2.
In addition, the new tyres also offer excellent grip, allowing heavy goods vehicles to display safe and secure handling, even in fluctuating weather conditions, and offer outstanding traction throughout their lifespans.
The Conti Eco Gen 5 is available for delivery direct from the factory with latest-generation sensors, allowing fleet operators to drive the progress of fleet digitalisation and – in conjunction with the ContiConnect 2.0 tyre management solution – enabling remote monitoring in real time and predictive service planning. This, alongside the company’s retreading solutions, helps to substantially reduce tyre-related operating costs.
The new Conti Eco tyres will be available in numerous sizes, starting with 315/70 R 22.5 Conti Eco HS 5, 315/80 R 22.5 Conti Eco HS 5, 385/55 R 22.5 Conti Eco HS 5, 385/65 R 22.5 Conti Eco HS 5, 315/70 R 22.5 Conti Eco HD 5, and 315/80 R 22.5 Conti Eco HD 5.
