24 Nov 2025
Road conditions and driving style could influence wear “up to three times more” than tire design
Hanover, Germany – Continental advanced its research into tire-wear emissions with a new particle-collection system developed with the Technical University of Braunschweig, the German group reported 17 Nov.
The method uses a “specially adapted vacuum device” mounted behind a driven wheel to capture wear particles directly as they are generated, enabling real-time analysis during road testing.
The measurement method was developed as part of the recently completed OLRAP project, an initiative funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of science and culture.
A Continental test vehicle equipped with vacuum-based sampling and particle sensors collected airborne material at several points around the wheel and chassis, allowing researchers to distinguish particles originating from tires, brakes or the road surface.
Continental said the resulting dataset would feed into compound and tread development.
“Data on the quantity, size and structure of particles,” said Dr Matthias Haufe, head of Continental Tires material development, enables the manufacturer to optimise designs more precisely – without compromising on safety or performance.
The work also prepares the tire maker for upcoming standards such as Euro 7, which will introduce limits on tire-wear emissions from 2028.
The OLRAP test programme also examined how particle output varied with driving conditions.
A ‘multi-sensor setup’ produced "vast amounts of data, helping us to better understand tire wear,” explained Dr. Benjamin Oelze, head of tire wear testing development at Continental.
identifying correlations between particle concentration, vehicle speed and high longitudinal and lateral acceleration,
“We identified clear correlations between particle concentration and speed profiles, as well as the impact of high longitudinal and lateral acceleration on tire wear,” he said.
These findings could help optimise traffic flow and vehicle driving profiles to reduce emissions and improve environmental sustainability.
Continental said the research built on earlier industry-wide projects, including the Tire Industry Project (TIP) and the German RAU programme, in which the company participated.
RAU developed a filtration system capable of capturing up to 97% of solids particles beneath storm drains, providing further insight into the movement of road-traffic particles in the environment.
Alongside the research update, Continental cited comparative results indicating that its tires generated less wear than the market average.
Citing recent testing by German motoring association ADAC, the tire maker said data showed its products “abrade significantly less material” than competitors, stating that Continental tires produced 11% less wear on average across a dataset of 160 tested models.
Continental said its testing confirmed that some level of abrasion remained unavoidable due to the friction required for grip and braking.
Road conditions and driving style, it noted, could influence wear “up to three times more” than tire design.
The company added that design improvements could still reduce emissions over a tire’s life cycle.
Continental's EcoContact tire line, for instance, generates 30% less wear per kilometre and delivers 20% more mileage compared with its predecessor.
This, said Continental, is "a measurable improvement in environmental impact and efficiency, achieved without sacrificing safety or performance."
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