Continental AG Introduces Quieter Tire Technology

In addition to air pollution, noise is one of the biggest burdens on people and the environment, especially in urban areas. Reducing tire rolling noise is of great importance for both city life and in-vehicle comfort. The increasing prevalence of electric vehicles makes this issue even more crucial. With its ContiSilent technology, Continental is developing its tires for a much quieter and more comfortable driving experience.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies traffic noise as the second-largest environmental health risk in Europe. The situation is no different in Turkey. The proximity of residential areas to roads with high speed limits and the intermingling of living spaces make the noise problem increasingly visible. Therefore, reducing overall traffic-related noise emissions is vital. Addressing the issue of noise in traffic, Achillefs Tsotras, Head of Tire-Vehicle Interaction at Continental, emphasizes the importance of choosing the right tires: “Today, one of the significant sources of noise pollution is tire rolling noise. Traffic noise, especially from cars, buses, and delivery vehicles, is a major burden for people and the environment. Not only horns or engine noise, but tire rolling noise can be just as disturbing. At Continental, with our ContiSilent technology and innovative tread designs, we actively reduce rolling noise without compromising safety. In this way, we make every journey noticeably quieter, benefiting drivers, pedestrians, residents, and the environment equally.”

Tsotras continues: “While engine noise is more dominant at low speeds, tire noise generally becomes noticeable from medium speeds onwards. At Continental, we develop tires with extremely low rolling noise that contribute to reducing overall traffic noise and increasing in-vehicle comfort. We achieve this success thanks to our innovative technologies and special tread designs.”

Silent Pattern Tread Design to Reduce Rolling Noise

Continental has developed the Silent Pattern tread design, already available on the EcoContact 7 and EcoContact 7 S models, to reduce tire noise, particularly that audible to humans. This tread pattern is optimized for noise generated at speeds of approximately 50 km/h, where rolling noise is most noticeable. To reduce this noise, the spacing and angles of the tread blocks have been deliberately varied.

In traditional tires, evenly spaced tread blocks strike the road at regular intervals, producing an audible humming sound. In contrast, the irregular arrangement of Silent Pattern blocks breaks this regular rhythm, reducing the humming sound. The patterns are specifically tuned to eliminate noise emitted by different tread elements, creating an effect similar to noise-canceling headphones.

ContiSilent: Special foam inside the tire absorbs noise

To reduce noise inside the vehicle and increase comfort, Continental offers ContiSilent technology. This technology can reduce rolling noise caused by air vibrations inside the tire by up to 9 decibels in the cabin. Since the human ear perceives a 10-decibel reduction as halving the sound, regardless of ambient noise levels, ContiSilent has a significant impact on driving comfort.

ContiSilent technology uses a special, ultra-light polyurethane foam applied to the inside of the tire during production. This foam absorbs some of the tire's vibrations, preventing them from reaching the vehicle interior. Driving performance, fuel efficiency, load capacity, and top speed are not affected. Designed for summer tires, ContiSilent is available in a variety of products and sizes, including the ultra-high-performance SportContact 7.

Continental offers a wide range of tires designed for low rolling noise. The Conti Urban NXT, developed for city buses, and the EcoContact 6 Q for passenger cars are a few examples of tires that utilize this technology. In the van segment, the VanContact A/S Eco stands out as a quiet, safe, and efficient tire that meets the highest EU labeling standards (A/A/A) for rolling resistance, wet braking, and external rolling noise.

About Rolling Noise

Rolling noise is produced by the contact of tires with the road. The resulting sound is only audible at certain speed ranges – typically from around 30 to 50 km/h to 80 to 100 km/h. The exact noise level depends on factors such as road surface, drivetrain, tire type, and driving style. Generally, engine noise masks tire noise at low speeds, while wind noise dominates at high speeds. Therefore, rolling noise is most noticeable at speeds between 50 and 100 km/h.