Continental will open this year’s Tire Technology Expo Conference in Hanover, Germany, on March 3, 2026, with a presentation on tire technologies for autonomous driving. Dr Andreas Topp, head of platform development and industrialization for passenger car tires at Continental (below right), will show how the future of autonomous vehicles is becoming a reality and how the tire manufacturer is responding with innovative solutions.
“The future of self-driving vehicles has begun. We are developing tire technologies and products that meet the unique technical requirements of these vehicles,” said Dr Topp. “This includes topics such as interaction with smart vehicle dynamic controls, optimized fleet operations and tailored solutions for specific use profiles.”
Continental will also give three further presentations at the conference at Tire Technology Expo 2026, on carbon black recovered from end-of-life tires and used as a filler material; tire wear emissions beyond currently captured tire and road wear particles; and development challenges related to the Euro 7 regulation.
Identification of recovered carbon black
Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, a materials evaluation expert at Continental, will speak about identifying recovered carbon black in vulcanized rubber compounds.
Recovered carbon black (rCB) is the first tire filler material available on an industrial scale from end-of-life tires. It is primarily obtained through the pyrolysis of end-of-life tires and can be reintegrated into new compounds as part of a circular-economy approach. The tire industry recognizes that carbon black recovered from end-of-life tires is not equivalent to conventional carbon black but should be regarded as a new class of filler. The differences arise from its heterogeneous composition, carbon-containing residues and thermal history. Analyzing recovered carbon black in vulcanized rubber opens up new opportunities from both a technological and a regulatory perspective. But how can it be reliably identified in new rubber compounds for tires? In his presentation, Lacayo-Pineda will discuss the challenges involved and suitable methods such as electron microscopy and molecular spectroscopy.
Tire wear emissions beyond captured tire and road wear particles
In his presentation, Dr Frank Schmerwitz, senior test engineer for tire wear at Continental, will address tire wear emissions beyond currently captured tire and road wear particles (TRWP). Public discussions around tire-related emissions primarily focus on TRWP. However, the particles collected represent only part of a tire’s measured mass loss. In his presentation, Schmerwitz will take a broader view to provide a more scientifically complete understanding of underlying emission pathways. He will examine additional pathways, including the release of nanoparticles, the presence of tire wear residue on the road surface and its degradation through exposure to atmospheric oxygen and ultraviolet radiation.
Current development challenges in light of new regulations
Developing modern tires involves balancing a variety of factors – from technical performance parameters and customer expectations to regulatory requirements – while maintaining the same high safety standards. When a new performance parameter becomes standardized and regulated, such as tire abrasion under the Euro 7 regulation, it directly affects tire development. Binding limits for tire abrasion and standardized measurement methods under the Euro 7 standard provide both incentives and opportunities for innovation. In his presentation, Dr Pavel Ignatyev, a Continental expert in the physics of rubber friction and wear, will explain the parameters that influence tire wear and how they relate to the new Euro 7 requirements. Using simplified models, he will illustrate the complexity of tire wear and outline the remaining industry-wide challenges for further research and development. A thorough understanding of these relationships is essential to advancing technology and translating new regulatory requirements into targeted innovations.
Related news, Expo interview: Dr Pavel Ignatyev, R&D tire innovations and applied research, Continental
