Continental has been manufacturing winter tyres since 1952, growing to become the world’s largest manufacturer of winter tyres during this time and the number one in terms of technology.

Based in Hanover, the company proves its predigree through the large number of tyres tests in which its products have been rated “highly recommendable”, “outstanding” and “good”. This includes the victory in the first winter tyre test, which ADAC published in November 1982.
Continental’s first winter tyre was the the M+S 14. Over the years the requirements on winter tyres have increased considerably. In the 1950s, very few cars drove on loose snow in wintry road conditions.

The Continental M+S 14 was still called a “snow tread” due to its studded tread structure. By contrast, today’s winter tyres feature a very delicate tread profile that helps them to interlock even in the case of firmly compacted snow.

Anyone driving in winter nowadays not only requires grip on snow, but also good water drainage, protection against aquaplaning, precise handling, low rolling noise, performance at high speed and, above all else, short braking distances on all surfaces.

This means that tyre developers have to manage a huge number of conflicts between different objectives, and bring the “tyre” system to a higher level overall.

Modern winter tyres have become all-rounders in order to meet the high requirements laid down by car drivers. Below around 7°C, they offer more traction than summer tyres, undergo less wear if used properly and have – given a suitable design – a harmonic tyre/road noise.

Since their designers develop them so perfectly, they are the stars of the industry. In addition to what are now extremely complicated sipes, which give the tread blocks maximum grip, the developers also devise directional versions, asymmetrical tyres and even tyres that are asymmetrical and directional at the same time. The latter winter tyres have been manufactured differently for the right and left-hand side of the vehicle.

Although they offer maximum high grip on snow-covered roads, their logistics was too complicated for car drivers so that they only received a directional successor after the usual product cycles. A further focus in winter tyre development is sipe technology. Straight sipes, sinusoidal sipes, network sipes, honeycomb sipes, linked sipes, crosswise connected sipes, zigzag sipes– nothing appears to be too complicated in order to provide even more traction, even more safety.