Conti EfficientPro and Conti LightPro – New tire lines for maximum efficiency

• Conti EfficientPro steer and drive axle tires with EU label “A” for maximum fuel efficiency
• Conti LightPro offers almost 80 kg extra load capacity for tank trains in mineral oil transportation

Hanover, September 21, 2016. Fuel-saving tires for long-distance freeway transportation and weight-reduced tires exclusively for use on tank trains in mineral oil transportation are the latest developments Continental will be unveiling at IAA. As a highly dependable technology partner, Continental supports vehicle manufacturers in implementing the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, which stipulates that the fuel efficiency of trucks must be increased by 20% by 2020.

Continental will be showcasing the rolling-resistance-optimized Conti EfficientPro and weight-reduced Conti LightPro tires in hall 17, booth A06/B11. 

Both the Conti EfficientPro steering and drive axle tires earn EU label “A” for maximum fuel efficiency thanks to their low rolling resistance.

Conti EfficientPro: EU label “A” rating for maximum fuel efficiency

With the Conti EfficientPro line for the steer and drive axle, Continental now offers fuel-saving tires that have been specially developed for long-distance freeway transportation. Thanks to their reduced rolling resistance, the tires can achieve fuel savings of up to 0.64 liters over 100 kilometers compared with Conti EcoPlus tires¹. With an annual mileage of 120,000 kilometers, the Conti EfficientPro tires for the steer and drive axle save around 750 liters of fuel a year, thereby cutting annual CO2 emissions by more than 2 metric tons.

Used on all axles, the Conti LightPro tires reduce the total weight of a tank train used for liquid transportation by around 80 kg and offer an average useful load advantage of up to €900 a year.

These tires have been specially designed to achieve optimum fuel efficiency. Tried-and-tested technologies already used for Conti EcoPlus have been systematically enhanced for the Conti EfficientPro. Special rubber compounds for all of the components, the multi-layer design of the tire tread and the optimized rolling behavior drastically reduce rolling resistance so that both the Conti EfficientPro steering and drive axle tires earn EU label “A” for maximum fuel efficiency. Together with the Conti EcoPlus HT3 for the trailer axle, transport companies using Conti EfficientPro tires can now equip semitrailer tractors on all axles with tires certified to EU label “A”: the “Triple A” for maximum fuel efficiency.

The Conti EfficientPro is used primarily in the original equipment sector and will be available during the first half of 2017 in the aftermarket sector as well.

Conti LightPro: 80 kg more useful load for vehicles in tanker transportation

With the Conti LightPro tire line, Continental offers for the first time weight-reduced tires specially developed for use on tank trains for the transportation of liquids and, in particular, mineral oil. For this highly weight-sensitive transport segment, lighter tires offer valuable gains in load capacity. Thanks to the lower dead weight of the tires, the tank trains can transport more liquid without exceeding the permissible total weight. Fitted on all axles (steering, drive and trailer axle), the Conti LightPro tires reduce the vehicle's total weight by around 80 kg compared with tires from the Conti hybrid line. The increased load capacity and improved fuel efficiency increase cost-effectiveness by up to €900² a year, calculated over the tire’s entire service life.

75% less weight compared with conventional steel pistons thanks to the use of a special plastic: with the weight-reduced air spring family from Continental, forwarding agents can gain about 12 kilos of extra load per axle.

Conti LightPro tires are also the product of Continental’s latest technology and offer an optimum balance between weight-savings and mileage in the applications described above. From early 2017 onwards, the Conti LightPro steering and drive axle tires will be available primarily as original equipment.

With tank trains, even further weight savings can be achieved if the Conti LightPro tires are fitted in combination with Continental’s weight-reduced air springs. The injection-molded pistons further increase load capacity by about 12 kilograms on each axle. Compared with conventional steel pistons, the use of a special plastic reduces weight by up to 75%. The innovative design offers excellent ride comfort and makes them easier to install in the vehicle. The lightweight air springs are highly corrosion-resistant and durable, which increases a vehicle’s resale value. The weight-reduced air springs are already being used as original equipment in tank vehicles. Some types from the Continental air spring family are also available as spare parts.

_{¹  Calculation based on a 40-metric ton semitrailer tractor with a tractor fitted with Conti EfficientPro on the steering and drive axle and Conti EcoPlus on the trailer, given an annual mileage of 120,000 km.}

_{² Calculation based on a 40- metric ton tank train used for liquid transportation with an annual mileage of 120,000 km.}