Continental Tires expands UHP, large tire portfolio

MANILA: Continental Tires has expanded its global portfolio of ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires with plans to strengthen its 18-inches and above segment further in the future. 

According to the German tire manufacturer, it will add more than 650 new tire sizes across all tire lines for both original equipment on new cars and the replacement market. In doing so, Continental Tires can respond to growing demand for high-performance tires designed for larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicles, as well as electrified drive systems, while laying the foundation for further profitable growth in this segment. 

“With our expanded UHP portfolio, we are responding directly to the increasing demands of modern vehicles,” Continental Tires Head of Research and Development Edwin Goudswaard was quoted as saying. 

“This enables us to offer our customers around the world even more tailored solutions for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics,” he added. 

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Growing demand for high-performance tires 

Per Continental Tires, the demand for high-performance models has become increasingly important for Continental and its customers in recent years. 

In the past five years, their share of sales in the global business for passenger-car tires across all brands rose from 41 percent to 55 percent—with the proportion being particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas. 

For the Hanover-headquartered firm, the share of UHP tires in global passenger-car tire sales increased from around 49 percent in 2020 to around 62 percent in 2025. 

Continental Tires noted that this highlights the growing importance of high-performance tires for modern vehicles and the strategic relevance of this segment. 

The company believes that the trend toward ever-larger tires is closely linked to developments in the vehicle market. Vehicles are becoming not only larger, but also heavier and more powerful. 

For example, sport utility vehicles (SUV) have been growing in popularity and are now an increasingly common sight on the roads—like here in the Philippines. 

Another key driver of rising vehicle weight is electric mobility: the batteries used in electric vehicles add considerably to their overall mass. At the same time, modern drive systems generate levels of torque once associated only with high-performance sports cars. 

“As modern tires become larger, heavier and more powerful, tires are becoming even more critical. They are no longer simply the vehicle’s connection to the road, but a key prerequisite for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics,” Goudswaard stated. 

“The UHP segment clearly demonstrates how capable modern tires need to be. The art lies in combining conflicting requirements at the highest level, and that is precisely what sets our tires apart,” he noted. 

Over 650 new tire sizes for key global regions 

Continental Tires is expanding its UHP offering across all major markets and will introduce more than 650 new tire sizes for original equipment and the replacement business by the end of 2027. 

The growing number of tire sizes also reflects the increasing diversification of the vehicle market. 

Continental Tires in PH  

Earlier this year, Continental Tires—through JM Far East—made quite a buzz by introducing the UltraContact UX7. 

Reflecting the company’s global directive, the said tire is intended for SUV use and is touted to be a product that safety, comfort, and durability. 

Here are some of its notable features: 

• X-Force Macroblocks Tread Pattern Design: maximizes the contact area with the road surface, creating wider contact to the ground that effectively distributes the force to the rest of the tire to improve handling and stability.
• Robust360 Construction: this reinforced tire structure features a reinforced tread steel wire layer and a stronger tire design to ensure superior performance and durability in a variety of road conditions tread wear resistance
• Adaptive Diamond Compound: boosts tread wear resistance via effective heat transfer, which also improves braking distance

In addition, Continental Tires introduced the “Total Confidence Plan” to local tire users. Those who sign up for the program will be covered for the following scenarios: 

• Severe punctures beyond repair
• Sidewall cuts exposing tire cords
• Impact damage from potholes or broken pavement
• Road debris-related damage
• Run-flat damage due to penetration or cuts (subject to validation)

Also read:

Pirelli launches 'puncture-sealing' feature

Gumande Tire enters PH

JM Far East brings out Continental UltraContact UX7

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