Continental has unveiled a new ultra-efficient tire developed in partnership with Renault Group that could significantly extend the driving range of future electric vehicles.
Created as part of a strategic collaboration with Renault’s innovation teams, the specially engineered tire delivers rolling resistance up to 35% lower than the threshold required for the European Union’s highest A-rated tire label. For an electric vehicle with a 500-kilometer driving range, the technology could provide up to 30 additional kilometers of range on a single charge.
The project builds on Continental’s EcoContact 7 tire, which was specifically adapted to meet Renault Group’s requirements. Engineers developed a modified tread compound, a bespoke sidewall design, and an optimized tire structure to minimize energy losses while maintaining the safety and performance standards expected from modern passenger vehicle tires.
The tire was showcased during Renault Group’s Sustainability Tour on June 8 in Guyancourt, near Paris.
“Together with Renault Group, we are improving the efficiency of its new electric vehicles. Our tailor-made tires have very low rolling resistance, which significantly increases range,” said Dr. Christian Strübel, Continental’s expert on passenger car tire rolling resistance.
Nicolas Champetier, Vice President of Innovation at Renault Group, emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “Extremely low rolling resistance is key to enhancing the range of electric vehicles. With Continental, we have a strong partner by our side. Thanks to our long-standing collaboration in original equipment, we can jointly develop solutions that have the potential to deliver real added value for our customers.”
Why Rolling Resistance Matters for EVs
Rolling resistance remains one of the most important factors influencing vehicle energy consumption, regardless of whether the vehicle is powered by electricity or an internal combustion engine. According to Continental, approximately 20% to 30% of a vehicle’s energy use is linked to tire rolling resistance.
As a tire rolls along the road, energy is lost through the natural deformation of the tire and friction with the road surface. Reducing these losses allows vehicles to travel farther using the same amount of energy. For battery-electric vehicles, lower rolling resistance translates directly into improved efficiency and increased driving range.
However, tire development involves balancing efficiency with safety. Tires are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, making grip essential for effective braking, cornering stability, and overall handling performance.
Virtual Development Accelerates Innovation
A key aspect of the Continental-Renault project was the extensive use of virtual engineering and simulation technologies.
The partners combined Continental’s Driver-in-the-Loop simulator with Renault Group’s ROADS driving simulator to evaluate and optimize tire characteristics under realistic virtual driving conditions. By digitally recreating real-world scenarios, engineers were able to accelerate development, improve testing accuracy, and reduce reliance on physical prototypes.
Continental says its growing use of virtual development technologies now helps save up to 10,000 test tires annually, improving both development efficiency and sustainability.
The project highlights how advanced tire engineering can play a crucial role in boosting EV efficiency, offering automakers another pathway to extend driving range without increasing battery size or vehicle weight.
