Continental develops concept tire with 43% recycled materials

Continental has developed a concept tire composed of approximately 43% recycled materials as part of the EU-funded ZEvRA project. The initiative aims to advance the circular economy within the electric vehicle sector by exploring alternatives to virgin raw materials throughout the entire value chain.

The concept tire incorporates various recycled components, including recycled tall oil, steel, rubber recovered from end-of-life tires, polyester fibers from recycled PET bottles, recovered carbon black, and recycled sand used for alternative silica. Despite the high percentage of recycled content, the tire achieved the highest rating in the EU tire label’s rolling-resistance category, demonstrating that sustainability can meet strict safety and efficiency standards.

The ZEvRA project is a two-year consortium involving 28 partners and is expected to conclude in 2026. Continental is the sole tire manufacturer participating in the project. The company is already utilizing recovered carbon black at its Korbach facility in Germany for the production of solid rubber tires used primarily on forklifts.