The Continental Tires Garage: What do hiking boots and tire compounds have in common?

The Rubber Code

In this episode of The Continental Tires Garage, we crack the “rubber code.” Discover why summer and winter tires require fundamentally different rubber compounds to perform in changing temperatures and road conditions throughout the year. The right rubber compound is essential for safety, efficiency and durability. Through hands-on experiments, our tire compound expert Dr. Thorsten Torbrügge and host Daniel Holzberg demonstrate how temperature affects tire performance. You’ll see why summer tires begin to harden and lose grip below 7°C, while winter tires stay flexible and provide traction on snow and ice.

At first glance, summer and winter tires may look the same – black rubber, round shape. But modern rubber compounds are high-tech systems that play a key role in grip, braking distance and safety in every driving situation. Thorsten Torbrügge, head of Compounding Technologies in Continental’s Tires group sector, explains what lies behind the “rubber code” – and why a tire designed for 7°C is completely different to one designed for 27°C.

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Silica: A Filler with a Great Success Story

Continental first introduced silica in the tread compounds of car tires 30 years ago, revolutionizing driving safety and energy efficiency. Thanks to the special surface properties of silica, the rolling resistance of tires was significantly reduced and braking distances were almost halved. Today, silica has largely replaced carbon black in the tire tread and has become indispensable for many rubber compounds for car, van and two-wheeled vehicle tires. In addition, the production processes for the filler are becoming increasingly sustainable. Today, Continental already uses sustainable silica obtained from rice husk ashes.

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Silica in Tires has Enabled Greater Safety and Sustainability on the Roads for Three Decades

March 11, 2025 Continental replaced carbon black in tread compounds with silica for the first time in 1994

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The Continental Tires Garage: Episode 2

The Rubber Code

What do hiking boots and tire compounds have in common? More than you might think.

The Rubber Code: Why the Right Rubber Compound Is Crucial for Your Safety

5 questions for Thorsten Torbrügge, head of Compounding Technologies in Continental’s Tires group sector

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