Continental's new ContiTread, a retread product manufactured by Marangoni with the same rubber compounding, tread designs and fuel-saving technologies as new Continental tires, will be available in the U.S. and Canada for fleet customers through current Continental and MTNA dealers.


ContiTreads will be available in designs based on the Continental HDL Eco Plus (Heavy Drive Long-Haul) and the HTL Eco Plus (Heavy Trailer Long-Haul) tires, both of which are certified for increased fuel efficiency through the U.S. EPA SmartWay program.

ContiTread products are initially available using Ringtread technology, a retread in the form of a ring that is cured in a centripetal press. This summer, Continental will launch ContiTread Premium Cut-To-Length treads, a flat tread that fits the tire casing perfectly with no waste in tread rubber.

"Continental customers choose our truck tires for their innovations in tread design, exceptional performance in fuel efficiency, and advanced tread compounds," said Paul Williams, executive vice president of CTNA - The Americas, commercial vehicle tire division. "But the lifecycle of these benefits should not end when the casing is retreaded. Today with ContiTread, customers will be able to receive a retread product that can last through multiple lifetimes and is produced with the same treads and technologies as their new Continental truck tires.

"By using the tread designs and advanced compounding of the HDL Eco Plus and HTL Eco Plus tires, ContiTreads will be one of the least rolling resistant, and therefore, most fuel-efficient, retread products on the market today," said Williams.

"ContiTreads not only look the same as new Continental tires, but they will perform like new tires and still provide excellent fuel economy. You should never have to expect anything less throughout the entire lifecycle of a tire," Williams said.

Continental chose Marangoni to produce the ContiTread product based on its expertise as one of the world's most technologically advanced retreading manufacturers, Williams said. In Europe, the parent companies Continental AG and Marangoni S.p.A. have a tread rubber manufacturing cooperation which also includes production of private label tires for Italy.

In Mexico, Continental is developing a total retreading business model for its dealers that will include setups of retread operations with Marangoni equipment, and sales of the ContiTread products.