Continental to showcase new innovations in Tyre Technology

ContiSense and ContiAdapt are the two systems from Continental that are based on situation-matched adaptation of tyre performance characteristics to prevailing road conditions

In ContiSense, electrically conductive rubber compounds send electric signals from a sensor in the tyre to a receiver in the car and this continuously monitors the tread depth and temperature. In the future, the ContiSense system will feature additional sensors that can also be utilized individually. Thus, information about the road surface, such as its temperature or the presence of snow, can be “felt” by the tyre and passed on to the driver. The data can be transmitted to the vehicle’s electronics or via Bluetooth to a smartphone.

ContiAdapt combines micro-compressors integrated into the wheel to adjust the tyre pressure with a variable-width rim. The system can thus modify the size of the contact patch, which under different road conditions is a decisive factor for both safety and comfort. Four different combinations allow perfect adaptation to wet, uneven, slippery and normal conditions. The system also permits very low tyre pressures of below 1 bar to be set, to help ease the vehicle out of a parking space in deep snow or traverse a dangerous stretch of black ice.

ContiSense and ContiAdapt are joined by a concept tyre that enables the benefits of both systems to be fully leveraged. The tyre design features three different tread zones for driving on wet, slippery or dry surfaces. These concepts are the logical next step in the future-oriented development of the REDI sensor, brought to market by Continental in 2014. which was instrumental in establishing smart communication between vehicle and tire. The new tire technology concepts follow on from the two established mobility technologies ContiSeal, for the automatic sealing of punctures, and ContiSilent, for a tangible reduction in tire/road noise. in the fields of vehicle electronics and automotive IT, Continental is systematically aligning its products with the future requirements of autonomous driving and electric mobility.