Continental AG Develops 43% Recycled Concept Tire

Continental Develops High-Recycled-Content Concept Tire

Continental AG has developed a concept tire containing around 43% recycled materials through the EU-funded ZEvRA project, which focuses on creating more circular value chains for zero-emission electric vehicles. The Continental AG recycled concept tire combines sustainability objectives with performance requirements and achieves the highest rating under the EU rolling resistance label. Its material composition includes recycled tall oil, steel, rubber recovered from end-of-life tires, and polyester fibers produced from recycled PET bottles. The development demonstrates how recycled inputs can be incorporated into tire technology while maintaining performance characteristics required for modern electric vehicles.

Renewable and Mass-Balance Materials Expand Circular Content

The ZEvRA concept tire also contains around 13% renewable raw materials and 25% mass-balance-certified materials. Combined with its recycled content, more than 80% of the materials used in the tire originate from recycled, renewable, or mass-balance-certified sources. The approach illustrates how different material pathways can contribute to greater circularity rather than relying on a single recycling technology. The project also emphasizes the importance of establishing a reliable framework for scaling recycling technologies to industrial production, particularly as automotive manufacturers and suppliers seek to increase the use of more sustainable materials without compromising technical performance.

ZEvRA Project Supports Future Tire Material Development

The two-year ZEvRA project is designed to optimize circular value chains for electric vehicles and is scheduled to conclude in 2026. Continental AG is the only tire manufacturer among the project's 28 partners, giving the company a direct role in evaluating materials and technologies relevant to future tire development. The project's findings are expected to support further development of related materials and technologies at Continental, with the objective of increasing the proportion of recycled materials used in future tire generations. The initiative therefore connects experimental material development with the broader industrial challenge of building scalable circular supply chains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is significant about Continental's ZEvRA concept tire?
The concept tire demonstrates how recycled and alternative material sources can be combined while maintaining demanding tire performance requirements for electric vehicles. It contains around 43% recycled materials, approximately 13% renewable raw materials, and 25% mass-balance-certified materials, meaning more than 80% of its material content comes from these three source categories. The tire also achieves the highest EU rolling resistance label rating. Through the ZEvRA project, European Union partners are examining circular value chains and scalable recycling technologies for future electric vehicle applications.