Conti launches OE tire for driverless vehicles

Hanover, Germany – Continental has rolled out an OE tire line designed to meet the specific requirements of robotaxis, shuttle vehicles, autonomous delivery services and, in the future, self-driving private cars.

The aContact tires are set to hit public roads for the first time in US cities such as Las Vegas and San Francisco, said a 14 Aug release from the Hanover-based group.

“Self-driving robotaxis will soon be part of our everyday mobility – alongside traditional cars, cargo bikes and e-scooters,” said Meletis Xigakis, head of R&D for the OE business at Continental Tires.

The aContact range, he said, “combines technologies that have been adapted and customised for the ordering manufacturer or mobility provider – promoting safety and optimizing performance and efficiency.”

When vehicles are steered by AI-powered algorithms rather than humans, this alters the way they behave on the road, according to the German group.

For example, it said, self-steering cars usually drive at lower speeds and under strictly controlled conditions and often need to operate for extended periods of time.

In Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, as well as US cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, robotaxis are already a familiar sight, noted Continental.

Continental added that it is supplying customised aContact options to several customers that operate or will operate self-driving vehicle fleets.

This, it continued, “calls for different aContact quality requirements and technological specifications, depending on the area of application.

“Safety features are always paramount, however, including short braking distances and superior handling – including in wet conditions.”

Continental said it takes many driving-condition variables into account and adapts the rubber compound and tread design according to customer requirements, for instance more robust sidewalls or lower rolling resistance to maximise EV driving range.

The release went on to note that tires for self-driving cars usually have a relatively narrow and tall construction profile, which reduces air resistance as well as lowers rolling resistance.

Taller tires, it said, are also better equipped to carry the load of heavy vehicle bodies and battery packs, which positively impacts handling and driving stability.

Continental added that it has also made a targeted effort to minimise external rolling noise when developing its aContact tires.