TTI speaks to Dr Pavel Ignatyev, R&D tire innovations and applied research at Continental, about his upcoming presentation at Tire Technology Expo Conference, which will take place at the Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany, March 3-5. Ignatyev will give a presentation on the second day of the conference on the parameters influencing tire wear and current tire development challenges under the latest European regulations
What will your presentation be about?
The presentation will examine the complexity of improving wear resistance, starting with Euro 7 testing and certification details. It will review key factors influencing wear and illustrate these insights with models of wear mechanisms, enabling evaluation of wear rates across Continental’s complete product portfolio. Tire wear has always been central to this process, and now it is receiving particular attention with the introduction of the abrasion rate as a new regulatory criterion in the EU.
What problem is Euro 7 ultimately trying to solve from a tire wear and emissions standpoint?
Euro 7 addresses, for the first time, non-exhaust emissions such as tire wear – emissions that are becoming increasingly relevant as conventional tailpipe emissions decline with the rise of electric mobility. The regulation aims to create clear, harmonized, and internationally recognized measurement standards for tire abrasion. These standards are essential to ensure transparency, improve comparability and acknowledge high-quality, durable tires – an area in which Continental has been investing for many years.
We strongly support this regulatory approach and at the same time, it is important that future thresholds are both ambitious and technically achievable. In this interview, I am providing an overview of the current stage as of February 4, 2026. Several key decisions are still pending and are expected in the coming days and months – they are therefore not yet reflected here.
From an engineering standpoint, what aspects of Euro 7 testing pose the greatest challenges compared to previous standards?
The most significant challenge is the planned introduction of two new and technically demanding test methods. Manufacturers must demonstrate compliance either through an approximately 8,000km road test under tightly controlled environmental and driving conditions, or through a 5,000km drum test on a specialized three-meter artificial surface. Both methods must ultimately deliver comparable and reproducible results – something that is still being aligned at the expert level within UNECE. At the same time, every tire article in the portfolio must undergo this new form of type approval. This will substantially increase development effort, test capacity and the need for precise simulation models.
Where do you typically see bottlenecks emerge in the process of achieving both strong wear performance and regulatory certification?
The main bottleneck lies in the inherent trade-off between reducing abrasion and maintaining all other key tire characteristics. Improving wear often requires stiffer tread patterns, optimized force distribution, or adapted rubber compounds – all of which interact with criteria such as wet grip, braking and comfort. Achieving the right balance is a complex engineering task. In addition, the expanded testing and certification requirements create capacity challenges. Finally, real-world wear is heavily influenced by vehicle characteristics, road pavement and driving style.
What key takeaways do you hope attendees will get from your presentation?
First, tire wear is a systemic challenge – it depends on tire design, the vehicle, the road pavement and driver behavior. Effective reduction requires collaboration across the entire mobility ecosystem. Second, Continental is exceptionally well prepared for Euro 7. We have invested for many years in advanced test methods, material research and simulation capabilities, and independent analyses such as the ADAC evaluation show that our tires already achieve about 11% lower abrasion than competing premium products. And third, safety and sustainability must go hand in hand. Our balanced performance approach ensures that we reduce abrasion and environmental impact while preserving the safety performance that remains non-negotiable for us.
Book your conference pass to attend Ignatyev ‘s presentation, and see the whole line-up of speakers at Tire Technology Expo Conference 2025.
