Leo Kolodziej

How relevant is the use of sustainable materials?

The use of sustainable materials is increasingly becoming a focus of attention. This is particularly true because every second city bus is already a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and the focus is shifting beyond the pure usage phase to the entire life cycle analysis. With up to 60 percent^* renewable, recycled, and ISCC PLUS^**-certified materials, the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT sets a new standard and marks an important milestone on the road to a more sustainable truck and bus tire portfolio.

How does the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT meet the requirements that vehicle manufacturers place on bus tires today?

Vehicle manufacturers in the urban bus segment today place particularly high demands on bus tires, driven by advancing electrification, increasing regulatory requirements, and growing demands for sustainability. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT was specifically developed to meet these requirements. A key aspect is the eligibility of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under the EU taxonomy. More than half of city buses are already electrified today. That is a trend that will be further reinforced by ambitious emission targets, such as a 90 percent reduction in CO₂ by 2030, and public tenders. To be eligible for subsidies, tires must meet a rolling resistance label B and a noise label A. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT achieves both values.

How important is safety in the bus segment?

Safety remains essential in passenger transport. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT offers an excellent wet braking performance, an important contribution to operational safety in urban environments. In addition, the tire meets the requirements for economy and robustness: high mileage and effective curb protection are essential in city traffic. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT impresses here with its durable construction, which is specially designed for the challenges of urban use.

Is the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT equipped with tire sensors as standard?

The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT is available in size 275/70 R 22.5. It comes with sensors as standard for original equipment and on request for the replacement market. Urban use, where buses return to the depot every day, is an ideal application for digital solutions. Measures such as regular tire pressure checks and adjustments can be implemented particularly efficiently here, much more easily than in international long-distance transport, for example. The use of yard readers allows tire pressure to be monitored automatically and reliably without the need for manual checks. This not only increases operational safety, but also helps to optimize energy consumption, mileage, and maintenance costs. That is a further contribution to the efficiency and sustainability of electrified bus fleets.

What sustainability requirements do vehicle manufacturers place on bus tires today?

Vehicle manufacturers' requirements are increasingly geared toward the EU Green Deal and the goal of CO₂ neutrality by 2050. The focus is therefore on reducing CO₂ emissions; primarily by optimizing rolling resistance, as this directly influences energy consumption. With the shift from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) – especially in the urban bus sector, which will be almost completely electrified by 2030 – requirements are continuing to change. Whereas in the past the focus was on the usage phase, sustainable materials and the circular economy are now also coming more into focus. 

What are the reasons for this development?

These aspects are gaining in importance as they have the greatest impact on the carbon footprint after rolling resistance optimization. With the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT, we are delivering our first series-production tire with an increased proportion of sustainable materials, up to 60 percent^* renewable, recycled, -Plus certified, an important step in a long-term transformation. The urban bus segment is considered a pioneer for the entire commercial vehicle industry, as it is being electrified the fastest. 

What requirements for tires play a role in electrification?

Requirements that are becoming increasingly important in the context of electrification include noise reduction, in order to increase the acceptance of electric mobility in urban areas, as well as abrasion and TRWP (Tire and Road Wear Particles). This topic is being discussed more and more but there is currently no clear regulatory framework for deriving concrete measures. Overall, it is clear that sustainability requirements are complex and, in some cases, still subject to uncertainty, particularly because many regulatory requirements are not coordinated in terms of timing. This leads to conflicting goals in development, which must be weighted and evaluated differently depending on the degree of electrification.

To what extent is the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT geared toward the requirements of electrified fleets?


The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT is specifically designed to meet the requirements of electrified bus fleets, thereby supporting the transformation to zero-emission public transport. A key role is played by the optimization of rolling resistance, which improves both the CO₂ balance and the total cost of ownership (LODC) while maintaining high mileage. With its rolling resistance label B, the tire also meets the eligibility requirements for EU taxonomy. It is a crucial aspect for many operators of ZEV fleets. 

How has Continental implemented these requirements in the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT?

We have specifically and consistently implemented the current requirements of vehicle manufacturers in the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT. A key aspect is the optimization of rolling resistance by 25 percent, which means that the tire achieves rolling resistance label B. In combination with noise reduction and noise label A, the tire meets the eligibility requirements for EU taxonomy for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). In addition, the proportion of sustainable materials has been significantly increased, with up to 60 percent^* renewable, recycled, and ISCC PLUS^**-certified components. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT thus makes an important contribution to CO₂ reduction and the promotion of the circular economy in urban bus transport.

How does the tire contribute to the EU's climate targets? 

The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT makes a targeted contribution to achieving the EU's climate targets, particularly within the framework of the European Green Deal, which aims to achieve CO₂ neutrality by 2050. For tires, the greatest lever for CO₂ reduction has traditionally been the optimization of rolling resistance – and this is exactly where the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT comes in. By significantly improving rolling resistance, it contributes to both energy efficiency and the eligibility of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) according to EU taxonomy. In a market environment with an already high proportion of electrified buses and growing use of green energy, the focus is increasingly shifting from the usage phase to a “cradle-to-gate” perspective. In this context, sustainable materials are becoming increasingly important as they have the greatest remaining impact on the carbon footprint. 

What trends do you see for the future in the bus segment?

From my perspective, the urban bus sector is currently the showcase for the future of the entire commercial vehicle industry. The dominant trend is clearly the ongoing electrification. We expect that by 2030, almost all city buses will have been converted to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This development is not only shaping the bus segment but also providing impetus for other areas of the commercial vehicle industry. This transformation is accompanied by several technological and sustainability-related developments. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT is a good example of this: rolling resistance optimization remains a key lever for improving LODC and increasing the range of electric vehicles. At the same time, noise reduction is becoming increasingly important, especially in city centers, where quiet traffic contributes to quality of life. 

What trends do you see in terms of sustainability and digitization of bus fleets?

The use of sustainable materials is also coming into sharper focus. The aim is not only to make the usage phase CO₂-neutral, but also to make the entire vehicle, including tires, sustainable from a cradle-to-gate perspective. In addition to the trend toward CO₂ reduction, attention is increasingly turning to other sustainability issues. With the introduction of Euro 7, for example, the issue of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) is becoming more relevant. However, we are still in the early stages here. There is currently no reliable basis for realistically assessing the impact on the overall performance of tires. Parallel to electrification, we are also seeing increasing digitalization of vehicles and a growing demand for integrated service solutions. The networking of tire, vehicle, and operating data will play a key role in the future, both for efficiency gains and for predictive maintenance and fleet management.

Which tire characteristics will become more important in the original equipment business in the future?

In the OE business, rolling resistance optimization will remain the most important tire characteristic in the future. It has the greatest impact on total lifecycle costs (LODC), CO₂ emissions, and vehicle range, especially for battery electric vehicles. Only when there is a high proportion of ZEVs powered by green energy will the relevance of rolling resistance be relativized and the focus shifts to other sustainability aspects. In this context, issues such as tire and road wear particles (TRWP) and associated abrasion rates are becoming increasingly important, especially in the wake of the introduction of Euro 7. At the same time, sustainable materials, circular economy, and CO₂-neutral production beyond the usage phase are becoming more important. These aspects are becoming increasingly relevant for the evaluation of products in the context of regulatory requirements and public tenders. 

Are there different trends and specific requirements depending on the segment?

Yes, in regional and long-distance transport, for example, the load capacity of steering axle tires is becoming more important due to the additional weight of the batteries. In urban applications, on the other hand, noise levels will continue to gain in importance as they directly affect the quality of life in cities. Overall, the original equipment (OE) business remains strongly influenced by the transformation toward ZEVs, with a clear focus on efficiency, CO₂ reduction, and holistic sustainability.

_{* The share may vary between 55% up to 60%. The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT contains 32%-34% recycled and renewable materials, including recycled rubber and natural rubber. Furthermore, Continental sourced 22%-26% of ISCC PLUS-certified materials via the mass balance approach from bio, bio-circular, and/or circular feedstock.}

_{** The ISCC PLUS standard supports the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy. This voluntary certification standard validates the sustainability characteristics of alternative feedstocks throughout the entire supply chain, from origin to end consumer.}