As urban areas around the world grow increasingly louder, traffic noise has emerged as a critical environmental and public health challenge. Recognised by health authorities as a major risk factor, this pervasive issue extends from European cities to megacities across Asia and Latin America. Continental is addressing this problem by pioneering tyre technologies that significantly reduce rolling noise, thereby contributing to quieter urban environments and enhanced in-vehicle comfort.

The transition to electric mobility has brought tyre noise into sharper focus. With the near-silent operation of electric motors replacing traditional engine sounds, the acoustic contribution from tyres becomes far more prominent, even at moderate city driving speeds. In response, Continental engineers have developed specialised solutions that target noise generation without compromising the safety, durability or performance of the tyre.

One such innovation is the Silent Pattern tread design, featured on models like the EcoContact 7. This technology disrupts the conventional, uniform arrangement of tread blocks that typically creates a rhythmic humming sound on pavement. By intelligently varying the spacing and angles of these blocks, the pattern breaks up this acoustic consistency. Furthermore, it is tuned to cancel out specific sound frequencies, akin to the principle behind noise-cancelling headphones. This results in a measurable reduction of traffic noise at speeds around 50 kmph, where rolling noise is most perceptible to pedestrians and residents.

For reducing noise inside the vehicle cabin, Continental employs its ContiSilent technology. This involves lining the inside of the tyre with a lightweight polyurethane foam that absorbs vibrations caused by the tyre’s contact with the road. By dampening these air vibrations, the technology can cut perceived in-cabin rolling noise by up to nine decibels – a reduction the human ear experiences as nearly halving the volume. This substantial increase in acoustic comfort is integrated into various product lines, including high-performance summer tyres, without affecting driving dynamics or efficiency.

The company’s commitment to low-noise mobility spans multiple vehicle segments. From the Conti Urban NXT for city buses to passenger car tyres like the EcoContact 6 Q and van tyres such as the VanContact A/S Eco, these products are designed to meet stringent noise standards. Consumers can readily identify these quieter options through regulatory labels, like the EU tyre label, which provides clear decibel ratings for external rolling noise. Through these continuous advancements in tread design and sound-dampening materials, Continental is systematically working to diminish the acoustic footprint of road traffic.

According to Achillefs Tsotras, head of Continental’s Tyre-Vehicle Interaction department, “Noise, especially traffic noise from cars, buses and delivery vehicles, is a major burden for people and the environment. With tyre technologies like ContiSilent and innovative tread designs, we are actively reducing rolling noise without compromising safety. This makes every ride noticeably quieter, benefiting drivers, pedestrians, residents and the environment alike.”

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Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd. has been recognised as an ‘Excellence Level’ facility in the 2026 Shandong Smart Factory Cultivation Library, an accolade announced by the Shandong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology. This acknowledgment highlights the company’s significant progress and systematic achievements in intelligent manufacturing.

This provincial initiative is a key strategy to promote new industrialisation and merge the digital economy with the real sector. Enterprises were evaluated and ranked into three tiers – Pioneer, Excellence and Advanced – based on their comprehensive capabilities in digital design, smart production, lean management and sustainable operations. Over 30 businesses from the tyre sector and its related industries, including manufacturing, steel cord, rubber additives and machinery, were selected. Among these, 1 achieved the Pioneer level, 15 attained Excellence and 15 reached the Advanced level.

For years, Triangle Tyre has steadfastly advanced its intelligent manufacturing strategy, focusing on complete process digitalisation and smart system integration. Looking forward, the company remains committed to principles of innovation and green development. It plans to further integrate digital technologies with manufacturing processes, aiming to establish a modern production base that is not only smarter and more efficient but also safer and more environmentally sustainable.

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BANF, a Korean intelligent tyre system company, and Silicon Labs, the leading innovator in low-power wireless, have developed a tyre monitoring platform capable of real-time, high-resolution data processing specifically designed for autonomous vehicles and connected fleet operations. A detailed case study documenting this development is now available on the Silicon Labs website.

The system directly addresses the limitations of conventional Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), which only trigger alerts after pressure drops substantially, leaving critical safety and efficiency issues undetected. BANF has transformed the tyre into an active intelligence node by integrating the Silicon Labs BG22 Bluetooth LE SoC into its in-tyre sensor architecture. This ultra-low-power system-on-chip was chosen for its robust RF performance, enabling reliable wireless communication even within the tyre's challenging environment where steel belts and thick rubber typically create a Faraday cage effect that impedes signals.

Inside the tyre, BANF's iSensor captures 3-axis acceleration, pressure, temperature and tread depth data at 4 kHz sampling rates. Rather than transmitting this raw information, the system performs onboard processing to extract key signals indicating wheel-nut loosening, slip events or reduced friction before sending concise alerts to the vehicle. This approach reduces communication load while accelerating response time. The integration of Silicon Labs' Secure Vault technology ensures automotive-grade security, protecting tyre data from tampering or spoofing for autonomous applications.

Power delivery has historically prevented advanced tyre sensing due to battery degradation from heat, centrifugal force and mechanical stress. BANF solved this through proprietary wireless power transfer technology. The Smart Profiler, mounted on the mudguard or fender, delivers continuous power to the iSensor using magnetic resonance, enabling battery-free operation with uninterrupted data acquisition at thousands of Hertz.

This real-time tyre intelligence feeds directly into chassis control, stability systems and autonomous driving algorithms for driverless trucks and buses where human intuition cannot detect traction loss. BANF plans to leverage accumulated data for predictive maintenance, route optimisation and insurance-linked services, positioning this solution as foundational infrastructure for next-generation mobility. Through this partnership, BANF and Silicon Labs have digitised the vehicle's last analogue domain.

Adam Sunghan You, CEO, BANF, said, "Tyres generate terabytes of data related to friction, load and mechanical stress, but until now there was no viable way to capture and transmit that information in real time. By combining Silicon Labs' BG22 with our wireless power technology, we have unlocked a new level of tyre intelligence."

Ross Sabolcik, Senior Vice President – Product Lines, Silicon Labs, said, "Compute is no longer confined to the CPU – it extends across intelligent peripherals and sensors. BG22 enables reliable, secure connectivity even in extreme environments, empowering innovators like BANF to digitise traditionally analogue systems."

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KraussMaffei Extrusion concluded a highly productive participation at the Tire Technology Expo 2026, held in Hannover from 3 to 5 March 2026. The company showcased its latest advancements in tyre extrusion technology alongside an enhanced portfolio of customer services. The exhibition booth attracted considerable attention from global trade visitors, with strong interest focused on systems designed to deliver precision, efficiency and reliability in the production of tyre components.

Dr Gerard Nijman, Senior Technical Expert Tire & Rubber at KraussMaffei Extrusion, highlighted the evolving dynamics of the global tyre market. He pointed to notable growth and transformation in regions such as India, Korea, Eastern Europe and increasingly Africa. This development is largely fuelled by the expanding global vehicle fleet. While Germany maintains a high vehicle density, emerging markets like India present substantial room for growth, accompanied by rising tyre demand.

Changing mobility trends, including the rise of electric vehicles and car-sharing models, are reshaping tyre specifications and manufacturing processes. Additionally, a growing emphasis on regional production is evident as manufacturers seek to minimise transportation expenses, shorten delivery timelines and navigate trade complexities. KraussMaffei Extrusion is strategically positioned to support this shift with its comprehensive technological offerings.

Central to the company’s exhibit were its high-performance Multiplex and Rollerhead systems. With decades of leadership in multiplex technology, KraussMaffei enables highly accurate co-extrusion of diverse rubber compounds, significantly boosting productivity. Its Rollerhead solutions further demonstrated capabilities tailored for cost-efficient production of components used in both passenger and truck tyres.

Dr Gerard Nijman, Senior Technical Expert Tire & Rubber

Beyond new machinery, the company emphasised the importance of modernising longstanding installations. Many systems from its predecessor brand remain operational after decades of service. Through customised retrofitting, KraussMaffei assists customers in upgrading existing lines to meet contemporary efficiency and production standards.

An expanded service portfolio was also unveiled, featuring a digital innovation that places QR codes directly on equipment. This allows for instant access to support services, with automatic capture of machine and order details enabling faster resolution of inquiries. Optional health checks can accompany QR code retrofits to ensure optimal system performance.

Sustainability emerged as a recurring theme throughout the event. Dr Nijman delivered a technical presentation addressing pathways to more sustainable rubber extrusion, engaging industry peers in discussions on future challenges and potential breakthroughs.

Buoyed by overwhelmingly positive feedback from clients and partners, KraussMaffei Extrusion looks ahead with confidence to ongoing developments in the international tyre industry and eagerly anticipates the next edition of the Tire Technology Expo.

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Gradeall International Ltd, a manufacturer of tyre recycling equipment and waste management machinery based in Northern Ireland, is drawing attention to an emerging environmental issue linked to the worldwide transition to electric vehicles. While EVs are effective in cutting transport emissions, they contribute to a new problem: accelerated tyre wear. As EV uptake grows across UK and globally, the resulting surge in end-of-life tyres is placing mounting strain on existing recycling systems. The Northern Ireland-based company is promoting the value of PAS 108 tyre baling as a practical solution for operators dealing with this increasing waste stream.

The accelerated degradation of EV tyres is largely due to the significant weight of their battery packs, which can add several hundred kilogrammes compared to conventional vehicles. This extra load, combined with the instant torque characteristic of electric motors and the friction generated by regenerative braking, leads to more rapid tread wear. These mechanical demands mean EV tyres require replacement sooner, intensifying the volume of waste material entering the recycling chain.

Evidence from industry research underscores the scale of the issue. Data from Epyx, analysing millions of vehicles, reveals that EV tyres wear out thousands of miles earlier than those on petrol or diesel cars. First replacements for EVs typically occur around 18,000 miles (approximately 28,968 km), a notable contrast with the longer lifespan of conventional vehicle tyres. Some estimates suggest EV tyres wear out up to half as quickly again, reinforcing the need for robust processing infrastructure.

Tyre baling has emerged as a widely adopted method for managing large quantities of waste tyres. Hydraulic balers compress whole tyres into dense, standardised units that are easier to store, transport and reuse. In the UK, PAS 108 sets the benchmark for tyre bale quality, defining standards for density, dimensions, and binding to ensure suitability in civil engineering projects like drainage and embankments.

Gradeall’s MKII PAS 108 tyre baler enables operators to process growing volumes efficiently while adhering to recognised specifications. As EV adoption accelerates across the UK and Ireland, such scalable equipment is becoming essential for responsibly managing the next wave of electric vehicle tyre waste.

Conor Murphy of Gradeall International said, “The EV revolution is great for emissions, but it is creating a tyre waste problem the recycling industry needs to address now. Electric vehicles wear through tyres 20–30 percent faster due to battery weight and instant torque. As EV fleets expand, the volume of end-of-life tyres entering the waste stream will increase accordingly. PAS 108-compliant processing provides a reliable way for operators to manage that growth responsibly.”

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