Continental Introduces EV-Compatible Tire for Urban City Buses

“As an EV-compatible tire, the Conti HAU 5 is able to fulfill the needs of electric vehicles and help to reduce combustion engine emissions over the long term,”

said Shaun Uys, Head of Continental’s Truck Tire Replacement Business in the US.

“In combination with its EV-compatible checkmark, this tire was designed with the needs of urban city buses in mind and has features that ensure safety and comfortability for passengers. We have seen the increase in the market share of electric and hybrid vehicles and we wanted to make sure that we provided a tire that not only fit the needs of where the market is today, but also where the market will be in the next few years."

The market share of electric vehicles has continued to increase over the past few years. According to data gathered in 2023 by S&P Global Mobility, 67 percent of buses registered in the U.S. as class 4 – 8 vehicles, are classified as electric or hybrid. And the CAGR of original equipment electric buses in the U.S. is projected to be 38 percent from 2023 to 2028. 

Specifically designed for urban city buses, the Conti HAU 5 is a metro service all-position tire, prioritizing both passenger safety and comfort, two of the largest factors for this vocation. Engineered with a new tread compound, the Conti HAU 5 ensures a smooth and quiet ride, enhancing the commuting experience for both drivers and passengers as they navigate city streets and highways.

Since safety is paramount, especially in the demanding vocation of city bus transport, where weather conditions var, the buses need a tire that can stand up to all climates. The Conti HAU 5 meets these challenges head-on with Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation. This designation ensures that the tire provides traction on medium-packed snow, crucial for maintaining stability and control in winter conditions. The tire has a block tread pattern provides reliable snow traction in areas with milder winter climates, ensuring consistent performance across diverse weather scenarios. 

When designing the Conti HAU 5 Continental looked at the environment that a city bus tire endures when it is in service. One of the biggest concerns for city buses is that they endure high scrubbing from pulling up to sidewalks on a regular basis. To combat this, the Conti HAU 5 features an extended sidewall to protect the tire and sidewall indicators to inform fleets of when to pull the tire from service for the safety of their passengers. The tread compound also delivers excellent milage in high scrub, urban metro conditions.

The Conti HAU 5 is available in size 305/85R22.5, load range J. It has a 24/32nds tread depth and is available as an intelligent tire. The tire features a durable casing for premium retreadability.