Jan-Ole van Lengen, Product Manager Van and Light Commerical Vehicle Tires EMEA at Continental
In the future, ContiSeal sealing technology will also feature in Continental van tires. ContiSeal reliably seals smaller holes in the tire tread - with a diameter of up to five millimeters - with no loss of tire pressure. This eliminates the most common types of puncture, making an important contribution to the safe and economical operation of van tires. “Punctures caused by nails or screws generally mean added costs for transport companies,” as Jan-Ole van Lengen, Product Manager Van and Light Commerical Vehicle Tires EMEA at Continental knows from experience. “Even smaller punctures lead to vehicle downtimes or the costly and complicated business of transferring the load to another vehicle. ContiSeal technology can reliably seal around 90 percent of all potential cases of damage to the tread.” Continental is looking into using ContiSeal technology in its winter and all-season tires for vans as well.
The first tire to feature this technology is the VanContact 100 in the popular size 215/65 R 16 C 106 / 104 T. Production will start by the end of this month. This is a robust tire, designed for transporting heavy loads also over poor surfaces. With its strong scuff protection strip on the sidewall it shrugs off contact with curbs, while stone ejectors at the base of the tread and a particularly robust tread pattern enable it to master even poorer roads. The tire’s reinforced carcass means it can handle continuous operation under heavy loads and at the same time benefits the vehicle’s dynamic stability. With its silica-enhanced compound and flat contact patch, this tire delivers high mileage even under tough operating conditions.