Safety is the highest priority, which is why every new tire from Continental is tested in depth. A new winter tire model undergoes the equivalent of up to 500,000 test kilometers in more than 20 test disciplines before it is ready for the market. During this Winter testing program, the tires are put through their paces according to strict criteria, such as traction, directional control and braking characteristics on dry, wet and snow-covered roads. This ensures the shortest possible braking distance, exact steering precision and high cornering stability. In addition, tire wear, fuel consumption, noise generation and general driving comfort also play an important role.
Part of the testing is carried out near the Arctic Circle at Continental’s test site in Arvidsjaur, Sweden. Here, the conditions are ideal for putting winter tires to the test with regard to starting off, cornering stability, handling, and braking on ice and snow. Continental takes more than 60,000 individual measurements each winter. Further driving maneuvers are also carried out to check directional stability, with new tire models being driven on around 18,000 bends on snow and ice.
The Contidrom test site near Hanover also has an indoor ice track that can be used all year round, regardless of the weather conditions. Here, experts test how new tire rubber compounds behave in the cold. For this purpose, a driver takes a vehicle onto the icy surface and brakes. The measured data is then evaluated as required. The ice temperatures can be set to different levels of coldness. In addition, experts use the in-house tire brake test facility to check how the tires behave when braking on wet and dry roads – also on vehicles, but fully automatically, i.e., without a driver.
The first winter tire from Continental was named the "Gelände" and was one of the first of its kind worldwide in 1934. The tire featured a new type of tread specially designed for snow, ice and slush. In 1953, the company tested how well Continental’s winter tires actually performed. Equipped with the Continental M+S tire, vehicles safely crossed the snow-covered Gotthard Pass, a mountain pass in the Alps that connects Switzerland with Italy. Today, Continental pushes its tires, such as the current WinterContact TS 870, to their limits on the test track in Sweden or in the Contidrom’s ice hall. The company is also continually researching new profiles, materials and technologies. Winter tires from Continental ensure maximum safety on winter roads – and have been doing so for 90 years.
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