German Tier 1 major, Continental has launched new set of tyres specifically designed for electric buses, which the company says need to support a usually high overall vehicle weight due to the heavy electric battery and stand instant torque delivery.

To address these challenges, they (e-bus tyres) need to combine grip, robustness, and above-average load carrying capacity, and Continental says its new Conti Urban HA3 315/60 R22.5 154/148J (156/150F) tyres meet all these needs. These all-axle tyres for electric passenger buses feature better grip and a load carrying capacity of eight tonne per axle, 0.5 tonne more than the standard for this tyre size.

The Conti Urban HA3 has an increased load index due to its extremely robust casing featuring high wire density and thickness. The company says it also comes with a sturdy and durable tread with a high proportion of natural rubber, which increases resistance to cuts, cracks, chipping, chunking, and abrasion, and leads to a long service life and utilisation of the tyre’s full mileage potential.  The Urban HA3 special urban bus tyre contour layout that adds to endurance and even wear, while its wide tread width ensures cornering stability and handling for maximum safety in urban traffic. The high-density interlocking sipes provide optimum grip and lane holding, even in extremely wet conditions, throughout the tyre’s service life.

The sipes are also staggered in order to reduce noise for increased ride comfort. Reinforced sidewalls ensure that the Conti Urban HA3 reliably withstands frequent curbstone contact, and thanks to its good retreadability, the tyres allow for multiple service lives.

Lutz Stabner, Head of Product Management for Continental truck and bus tyres in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said: ​​​​​​​“The new Conti Urban HA3 optimised for electric buses brings to fruition the valuable experience we’ve gathered from our recent collaboration with commercial vehicle manufacturers and municipal bus companies. Thanks to its balanced performance profile, it provides a safe, comfortable, and cost-effective solution for enabling e-mobility in challenging stop-and-go traffic.”