The Hanover-based tire manufacturer Continental has introduced the VanContact A/S Eco, a new van tire that, as the first all-season tire to receive top ratings in all categories of the EU tire label, is set to set new standards in the van segment.
“Thanks to its optimized rolling resistance, the VanContact A/S Eco contributes to lower energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions, without compromising safety and comfort,” says Stefanie Schütt, Product Manager for Commercial Vehicle Tires Germany at Continental.
The new tire is designed to meet the evolving demands of the commercial vehicle industry, such as compatibility with electric vehicles, resource efficiency, and fleet-performance optimization.
New Performance Standards
To address the growing variety of light commercial vehicles for transport, delivery, and passenger transport, they aim to accommodate
the growing variety of light commercial vehicles for transport, delivery, and passenger transport. Thus, quiet electric vans that emit no emissions during operation are a practical and cost-effective option for electrifying fleets for many companies and municipalities — especially in inner-city delivery. Due to increasingly stringent emissions regulations, ambitious EU climate targets, and rising customer expectations regarding mid-term CO₂ neutrality, the Hanover-based company expects steadily increasing demand for light electric commercial vehicles.
At the same time, vehicles with conventional engines are expected to remain a commonplace sight on public roads for the foreseeable future. The new tire is designed to be suitable for all drive configurations and to offer a resource-saving solution for vehicles with internal combustion engines as well as electric drives. The tire is marked
with the EV checkmark symbol on the sidewall, indicating its suitability for electric vehicles.
Improvements in All Performance Categories
The developers claim noticeable improvements in all three tire label categories compared with the predecessor model. The rolling resistance has been reduced by 21 percent. Noise emission and vibrations of the tire could be reduced by more than one decibel. Additionally, the tire offers significantly improved grip in aquaplaning, the manufacturer promises: the tire’s resistance to hydroplaning could be increased by ten percent. In the end, this also results in noticeable cost savings, greater range, and markedly improved ride comfort. As an all-season tire, it also makes seasonal tire changes unnecessary and reduces maintenance costs.
Innovative Compound and Tread Technology
An neuen Technologien führt man eine gewichtsoptimierte Konstruktion,
eine maßgeschneiderte Gummimischung und ein abgestimmtes Profildesign an. Die Smart Energy Casing-Technologie soll die Grundlage für mehr Energieeffizienz bieten, ein neues Stahlcord-Gürtelsystem für strukturelle Festigkeit sorgen und damit ebenfalls auf die Effizienz einzahlen. Der im Vergleich zu früheren Reifenserien reduziertes Abstand zwischen den Profilblöcken minimiert durch eine "optimierte Pitch-Sequenz" die Außengeräusche und soll so für eine ruhigere und komfortablere Fahrt sorgen, versprechen die Niedersachsen. Schneefänger, ein V-förmiges Profil sowie innovative Lamellen wiederum sollen zuverlässige Leistung und Sicherheit bei allen Wetterbedingungen sicherstellen.
„Overall, with these innovations we reduce vibrations, improve grip, and ensure reliable performance in all weather conditions,” says Stefanie Schütt.
The tire will be available on European markets from Q1 2026 in the dimensions 205/75 R16C and 235/65 R16C. Further sizes will follow depending on OE
