Thirty years ago, Continental introduced silica into their tyre tread compounds, transforming driving safety and energy efficiency. This innovation dramatically reduced rolling resistance and nearly halved braking distances, thanks to silica’s unique ability to bond with rubber polymers during vulcanisation. This process creates a robust network of rubber molecules, resulting in an elastic tyre with exceptional safety features.

Today, silica has largely replaced carbon black in tyre treads, becoming crucial for car, van, and motorcycle tyres. Continental is also leading the way in sustainable silica production, utilising silica derived from rice husk ashes, a by-product of rice farming.

“Silica in rubber compounds was a revolution. It allowed us to almost halve braking distances on wet roads,” explains Prof Burkhard Wies, head of applied research and innovation at Continental. “This remains a significant safety advancement. Silica compounds also benefit the environment by reducing rolling resistance, leading to lower fuel consumption in combustion engines and increased range in electric vehicles.”

Continental was among the first to recognise silica’s potential in the 1990s. The process involves reacting silica with silane during mixing, followed by vulcanisation at high temperatures. Sulphur creates flexible bonds within the rubber, while silica, aided by silane, strengthens the network, enhancing wet grip, abrasion resistance and rolling resistance.

Early road tests in 1994 demonstrated substantial improvements compared to carbon black, leading to the launch of the ContiEcoContact CP in 1995 and the ContiWinterContact TS 770, the first silica-based winter tyre, in 1996.

Continental is committed to enhancing tyre sustainability. Research focuses on alternative silica sources, such as rice husk ashes, which offer a more energy-efficient production process.

This sustainable silica is already used in the UltraContact NXT, Continental’s most environmentally friendly tyre.

Source: QuickPic