Most read: Conti rolls out first dandelion rubber tires

ERJ staff report (PR)

Hanover, Germany - Continental AG has unveiled the first test tires made using a dandelion rubber material, at the International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicles in Hanover.

At the event, Conti officials said the plan was to industrialise dandelion rubber and introduce it to serial production within the next five to ten years.

The natural rubber in the treads of the test tires was completely replaced with the new material, which has been labelled Taraxagum - derived from the botanical name for dandelion (taraxacum).Taraxagum.

.

The launch marked a culmination of several years of development work together with the Fraunhofer Institute, noted Nikolai Setzer, Conti board executive responsible for the group’s tire division.

“In order to make the best use of the crop yield produced to date, we decided to build passenger car winter tires, as they contain a high portion of natural rubber,” said Setzer.

The tires will undergo testing at the Contidrom proving grounds near Hanover as well as in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, Setzer emphasising: “This is of utmost importance, as we will not make any compromise when it comes to performance.”