A new star product: Continental UltraContact NXT: As the sun casts its golden light over the picturesque city of Lousado in Portugal, a significant transformation is taking place at Continental’s plant. It isn’t just about producing tires—it’s about pioneering the future of sustainable mobility.
Table of Contents
The Answer to a Greener Tomorrow: The Continental UltraContact NXT
Continental, a giant in the tire industry, has taken a massive stride forward in the eco-friendly arena with the production of their latest series: the UltraContact NXT. This isn’t just any tire; it’s their most sustainable tire yet, promising an unprecedented marriage of environmental responsibility and top-tier performance.
Peeling Back the Layers: What Makes the UltraContact NXT Special?
Diving deep into its composition, the UltraContact NXT boasts up to 65% of renewable, recycled, and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials. It’s a feat in itself. For the uninitiated, such certifications validate the sustainability and traceability of the raw materials utilized.
A whopping 32% of this tire comes from renewable materials. It takes the remnants from the paper and wood sectors and innovatively uses ash from rice husks as silicate. Why rice husks? These agricultural by-products are usually discarded, but Continental, in its innovative spirit, turns this waste into precious silica through an energy-efficient process.
Not to mention the ever-reliable natural rubber, a staple in the tire world, that provides unparalleled strength and durability to the UltraContact NXT.
Recycled Materials: Breathing Life into the Old
The UltraContact NXT carries a unique “contains recycled materials” logo, highlighting Continental’s commitment to reusing and repurposing. Recycled rubber from old tires and steel finds its way back into the production line. Even PET bottles, which could’ve met their end in landfills or incinerators, are given a new life.
Thanks to the revolutionary ContiRe.Tex technology, up to 15 bottles per tire are transformed into high-performance polyester fibers, reinforcing the tire’s structure.
Mass balance certified materials: balancing the Scales. With 28% of its composition stemming from ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials, the tire embraces sustainable synthetic rubber and carbon black. Such materials are derived from biobased, bio-circular, or circular feedstocks, marking a new frontier in tire production.
More Than Just a Tire: Continental’s Vision for a Sustainable Future
It’s clear that Continental isn’t merely looking to produce tires; they envision a sustainable future. Their efforts don’t stop with the UltraContact NXT. By 2030, they plan to ramp up the renewable and recycled content in their tires to over 40%. And by 2050, their ambition is to have 100% sustainable materials in all their tire products. A lofty goal, but if the UltraContact NXT is any indication, they’re on the right track.
A Tire for All: Compatibility and Availability
The UltraContact NXT doesn’t discriminate. Designed to cater to both electric and combustion engines, it promises exceptional efficiency and mileage performance. Bearing the EV Compatible logo, it’s set to be the choice for popular vehicle models like the Kia Niro, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Tesla Model 3, Audi Q4 E-TRON, Skoda Octavia, VW Golf 8, Audi A3, VW ID.3, and Tesla Model 3, among others.
For European customers eager to get their hands on this groundbreaking tire, the wait won’t be long. The UltraContact NXT will soon grace the shelves of tire dealers across the continent.
Wrapping Up: The Road Ahead
In a world where sustainability isn’t just a catchphrase but a pressing necessity, Continental’s UltraContact NXT stands out. It represents more than just a product; it embodies a commitment to the planet and future generations. As we journey into the future, tires like these are not just about the ride—they’re about making sure we have a world worth driving in.
To all the automotive enthusiasts and environmentally conscious individuals out there: keep an eye out for the UltraContact NXT. It’s not just a tire; it’s a statement. And it’s rolling out to redefine the roads we travel.
