The tire’s debut comes as Continental and other auto suppliers come under intense pressure from automakers and governments to become greener. Many automakers have set aggressive targets to reduce their carbon footprints, goals that hinge in large part on whether they can get their suppliers to cut back on emissions and use more sustainable materials.
“For OEMs to reach their sustainability targets, they need more sustainable tires moving forward,” Setzer said.
By 2030, Continental plans to have its tires comprised of more than 40 percent recycled and renewable materials, up from between 15 and 20 percent today, Setzer said. By 2050, the company expects its tires to be made entirely of green materials.
The latest tire will first be sold at European dealerships in July. Beyond that, Setzer said the company is open to supplying automakers with the tire for use on new vehicles.
“We have not targeted this yet because we wanted to be fast to introduce it,” he said. “But for sure, it could be an [original equipment] tire at some point. There’s nothing against that.”
