Continental Develops Tire for Robo Taxis

A new tire from Continental AG, the Continental aContact, is designed for use on robo taxis and other autonomous vehicles.

"Continental’s aContact tires will soon be hitting public roads for the first time in US cities such as Las Vegas and San Francisco," say Continental officials.

"Self-driving robo taxis will soon be part of our everyday mobility, alongside traditional cars, cargo bikes and e-scooters,” says Meletis Xigakis, head of research and development for the original equipment business at Continental Tires.

“To ensure maximum efficiency, it is crucial they are equipped with tires made specifically for the job. That is where our aContact product line comes in, combining technologies that have been adapted and customized for the ordering manufacturer or mobility provider – promoting safety and optimizing performance and efficiency.”

According to Continental officials, when vehicles "are steered by AI-powered algorithms rather than humans, this alters the way they behave on the road. Self-steering cars, for example, usually drive at lower speeds and under strictly controlled conditions. For that reason, tires fitted to robo taxis often need to operate for extended periods of time.

"Tires for self-driving cars usually have a relatively narrow and tall construction profile, which reduces air resistance as well as lowers rolling resistance. Taller tires are also better equipped to carry the load of heavy vehicle bodies and battery packs, which positively impacts handling and driving stability. To make the driving experience as quiet as possible, Continental also makes a targeted effort to minimize external rolling noise when developing its aContact tires."