Continental Expands Portfolio of Large and High-Performance Tyre
Continental has significantly expanded its global portfolio of ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres – tyres measuring 18 inches and above – over the past five years and plans to strengthen this segment further in the future.
By the end of 2027, the company will add more than 650 new tyre sizes across all tyre lines, for both original equipment on new cars and the replacement market. By expanding its portfolio, the tyre manufacturer is responding to growing demand for high-performance tyres designed for larger, heavier and more powerful vehicles, as well as electrified drive systems, while laying the foundation for further profitable growth in this segment.
“With our expanded UHP portfolio, we are responding directly to the increasing demands of modern vehicles,” says Edwin Goudswaard, head of Research and Development for Continental’s Tires group sector. “This enables us to offer our customers around the world even more tailored solutions for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics.”
Growing importance of high-performance tyres
High-performance tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles have become increasingly important for Continental and its customers in recent years. Between 2020 and 2025, their share of sales in the global business for passenger-car tyres across all brands rose from 41 percent to 55 percent. The proportion is particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region (70 percent) and the Americas (66 percent), while in the EMEA region UHP tyres account for 43 percent of passenger-car tyre sales. For the Continental brand, the share of UHP tyres in global passenger-car tyre sales increased from around 49 percent in 2020 to around 62 percent in 2025. This highlights the growing importance of high-performance tyres for modern vehicles and the strategic relevance of this segment for Continental.
The trend toward ever-larger tyres is closely linked to developments in the vehicle market. Vehicles are becoming not only larger, but also heavier and more powerful. SUVs in particular have been growing in popularity for many years and are now an increasingly common sight on the roads. Another key driver of rising vehicle weight is electric mobility: the batteries used in electric vehicles add considerably to their overall mass. At the same time, modern drive systems generate levels of torque once associated only with high-performance sports cars.
This, in turn, is placing greater demands on modern tyres, which must be able to support heavier loads while continuing to ensure safety, efficiency and driving comfort. Ultra-high-performance tyres in particular combine high grip, short braking distances and precise handling with low rolling resistance and high mileage. Continental develops these tyres primarily for large wheel-and-tyre combinations of 18 inches and above, as well as for performance SUVs, premium sedans, sports cars and high-performance electric vehicles.
“As modern tyres become larger, heavier and more powerful, tyres are becoming even more critical. They are no longer simply the vehicle’s connection to the road, but a key prerequisite for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics,” says Goudswaard. “The UHP segment clearly demonstrates how capable modern tyres need to be. The art lies in combining conflicting requirements at the highest level, and that is precisely what sets our tyres apart.”
More than 650 new tyre sizes for key global regions
Continental is expanding its UHP offering across all major markets and will introduce more than 650 new tyre sizes for original equipment and the replacement business by the end of 2027. In addition to the core Continental brand, this includes secondary brands such as Semperit and Uniroyal. The growing number of tyre sizes also reflects the increasing diversification of the vehicle market. Manufacturers are offering their models in more and more variants worldwide and require tyres that are precisely tailored to different performance, efficiency and comfort requirements.
Material expertise and intensive testing for maximum performance
Ultra-high-performance tyres must meet a wide range of requirements, some of which are conflicting. They must provide high grip on dry and wet roads, short braking distances and precise handling, while at the same time delivering low rolling resistance, high ride comfort and high mileage. The rubber compound plays a central role in achieving this balance, as it largely determines a tyre’s performance profile and must balance multiple characteristics.
To meet these requirements, Continental relies on extensive development and testing procedures. These range from digital simulations and laboratory analyses to bench tests and comprehensive driving tests under a wide variety of temperatures, loads, speeds and road conditions. The High Performance Technology Center in Korbach is a key innovation hub for the advancement of manufacturing processes for high-performance tyres. Insights gained there are applied throughout Continental’s global production network, where UHP tyres up to 24 inches in size are manufactured. Their performance is then tested under real-world conditions at test tracks including the Contidrom near Hanover, as well as facilities in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, and Uvalde, Texas, USA. Key focus areas include braking performance on wet and dry roads, handling, high-speed capabilities, comfort and durability.
Continental also gains valuable development input through its collaboration with renowned tuning specialists such as ABT Sportsline and BRABUS, as well as from motorsports. Through its racing-tyre subsidiary Hoosier, Continental incorporates experience from motorsports directly into the development of road tyres. Findings related to rubber compounds, tyre construction and performance under extreme loads help continuously advance the capabilities of modern UHP tyres.
Core product SportContact 7 excels in independent tyre tests
The SportContact 7 is one of Continental’s core products in the UHP segment and exemplifies the performance of its tyre portfolio. The summer tyre was developed for high-performance vehicles powered by internal combustion engines or electric motors and is available in sizes ranging from 18 to 24 inches.
Its capabilities have been demonstrated both in independent comparison tests and through numerous original-equipment approvals from leading vehicle manufacturers. Automotive manufacturers including Audi, BMW, BYD, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Porsche, Volkswagen and Zeekr equip selected vehicle models with the SportContact 7 as original equipment. These approvals emphasize that the tyre meets manufacturers’ demanding requirements for safety, driving dynamics and performance.
Independent testing organizations also regularly confirm its quality. Since its launch, the SportContact 7 has ranked among the top three in 27 of 29 international tire tests. Reviewers have particularly highlighted its short braking distances and balanced, confidence-inspiring handling on both dry and wet roads. The combination of outstanding test results and the rigorous requirements of original-equipment fitments has made the SportContact 7 one of the most successful products in its segment.
*Information provided by the publicist.
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