Continental secures exclusive OE deal for VW ID.7

Continental has secured exclusive worldwide original equipment approval from Volkswagen to equip its EcoContact 7 S tyre to the all-electric ID.7.

Supplied as OE in 21-inch tyre size, the EcoContact 7 S is said by Continental to boast maximum energy efficiency, low rolling noise, high mileage and powerful steering precision, making it an ideal tyre solution for electric vehicles such as the ID.7.

Continental says the EcoContact 7 S owes its special efficiency to the new rubber compound and Smart Energy Casing technology. The EcoContact 7 S uses new materials in the tyre carcass, inner layer and tyre wall. These reduce friction inside the tyre, lowering rolling resistance and increasing energy efficiency, while the optimised design of the tyre wall enhances aerodynamics.

Continental has combined various technologies to achieve this. One such element is the “aerodimple” structure borrowed from golf – recesses embedded in the tyre sidewall that reduce the air turbulence behind the tyre. This means that the vehicle has to expend less energy to move the tyre.

The newly developed Silent Pattern tyre profile also results in low rolling noise. For this purpose, the experts at Continental optimised the spacing and angle of the tread blocks in the tread. This helps to reduce road noise in cities – for both electric and combustion vehicles.

The tread design is therefore ideally matched to the frequencies that typically occur at speeds of around 50 km/h, resulting in a more pleasant noise experience for passers-by and residents. Compared to the EcoContact 7, Continental says the tread compound of the EcoContact 7 S provides special traction and handling in the wet.

The Continental EcoContact 7 S also bears the ‘EV-compatible logo’ on the sidewall, which explicitly recommends the tyre for use on electric vehicles.