Continental ContiAdapt

ContiAdapt technology allows you to track changes in tire pressure and rim width to adapt the contact spot to road conditions.

On September 18, 2017, Continental announced the introduction of the conceptual tire technology ContiAdapt, designed to increase the level of safety and comfort on the road. The system provides for continuous monitoring of the condition of the tire, as well as adaptation of its characteristics to road conditions.

ContiAdapt technology provides microcompressors inside the wheel that increase or decrease the pressure in the tire, and a variable-width rim. The system can thereby change the size of the contact spot, which is the most important factor in safety and comfort in a wide variety of road conditions. Four different combinations provide excellent adaptation to wet, uneven, slippery and normal coating.

For example, a reduced contact spot combined with a high tire pressure reduces rolling resistance and fuel consumption, which is suitable for moving on a smooth dry coating. Conversely, the increased contact spot together with the reduced pressure ensures excellent grip on slippery roads. The system also allows you to set extremely low (less than 1 bar) pressure to facilitate the car's exit from the parking lot if its roadway is covered with a thick layer of snow, or to overcome a dangerous area with ice, the company said.

Continental considers ContiSense and ContiAdapt technologies promising in terms of tire adaptation to self-driving and mass distribution of electric vehicles. For example, reduced rolling resistance will allow an electric car to travel a greater distance on a single charge. At the same time, the properties of the tire can be changed according to the driver's preferences or sudden change in weather conditions.