Continental Tire says it will add over 650 new tire sizes across its global tire lines by the end of 2027 in an effort to expand its original-equipment and replacement market presence.

With a focus on strengthening its ultra-high performance (UHP) tire portfolio to meet the needs of larger, heavier vehicles and "electrified drive systems," the company aims to further improve its technologies for modern driving capabilities.

“With our expanded UHP portfolio, we are responding directly to the increasing demands of modern vehicles,” says Edwin Goudswaard, head of research and development for Continental’s Tires group sector. “This enables us to offer our customers around the world even more tailored solutions for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics.”

High performance tire growth

In recent years, the high performance tire segment has become increasingly important for Continental's business and customers. Between 2020 and 2025, its share of sales in the global business for passenger tires across all brands rose from 41% to 55%, according to officials.

The proportion reached 70% in the Asia-Pacific region, 66% in the Americas region and 43% in the EMEA region for passenger-car tire sales. Officials say the share of UHP tires in global passenger-car tire sales increased from 49% in 2020 to around 62% in 2025, reinforcing the segment's growth for the tiremaker.

The increase in vehicles with added weight, torque and more advanced driving systems has placed a stronger emphasis on developing tires that improve safety and efficiency. For the ultra-high performance segment, Continental manufacturers products "primarily for large wheel-and-tire combinations of 18 inches and above" for passenger cars, sports cars and high-performance electric vehicles. The tires include technology with high grip, short braking distances, stronger handling, low rolling resistance and high mileage.

In MTD's June Mid-Year Q&A, Tansu Isik, CEO of Continental Tire the Americas LLC, said that while the company recognizes the consumer trade-down trend to tier-three and tier-four products, the premium tire segment remains "resilient."

"There are still a lot of consumers out there who are looking for premium products, and also we are working together with our customers on communicating the importance of product performance, as well as creating objective data about product performance, so consumers are better-informed," said Isik. "So on the premium side, we stick to our strategy and we would like to continue promoting the Continental brand."

Continental's goal of introducing over 650 new sizes across its markets by the end of 2027 will include its core Continental brand as well as the Semperit and Uniroyal brands, say Continental officials.

Continental's UHP testing process

Due to the specific requirements of ultra-high performance tires – including wet and dry grip, excellent braking and precise handling – Continental officials say the company conducts "extensive development and testing procedures" to balance requirements in a variety of conditions.

"These range from digital simulations and laboratory analyses to bench tests and comprehensive driving tests under a wide variety of temperatures, loads, speeds and road conditions," say company officials.

The High Performance Technology Center in Korbach plays a key role in the manufacturing processes for high performance tires. The company then tests tires under real-world conditions at test tracks at the Contidrom near Hanover and facilities in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, and Uvalde, Texas.

"Continental also gains valuable development input through its collaboration with renowned tuning specialists such as ABT Sportsline and BRABUS, as well as from motorsports," according to officials. "Through its racing-tire subsidiary Hoosier, Continental incorporates experience from motorsports directly into the development of road tires. Findings related to rubber compounds, tire construction and performance under extreme loads help continuously advance the capabilities of modern UHP tires."

Continental's SportContact 7

The SportContact 7, one of Continental’s core products in the UHP segment, is a summer tire for "high-performance vehicles powered by internal combustion engines or electric motors and is available in sizes ranging from 18 to 24 inches." The tire has had numerous original-equipment approvals from vehicle manufacturers including Audi, BMW, BYD, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and more.

The tire's performance capabilities include effective braking and handling on both dry and wet roads, say Continental officials.