Continental is expanding its global ultra-high-performance tire portfolio—sizes 18 inches and above—and plans to add more than 650 new tire sizes across its lines by the end of 2027 for both original equipment and the replacement market.
The move responds to demand from larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicles, including SUVs and electrified drivetrains. Between 2020 and 2025, high-performance tires rose from 41% to 55% of Continental’s global passenger-car tire sales across all brands. For the Continental brand alone, UHP share climbed from about 49% to about 62%. In the Americas, UHP tires account for 66% of passenger-car tire sales, according to the company.
“With our expanded UHP portfolio, we are responding directly to the increasing demands of modern vehicles,” said Edwin Goudswaard, head of research and development for Continental’s Tires group sector. “This enables us to offer our customers around the world even more tailored solutions for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics.”
Expansion covers the Continental brand and secondary brands such as Semperit and Uniroyal. Development draws on simulation, laboratory work, and testing at facilities including the Contidrom, Arvidsjaur in Sweden, and Uvalde, Texas. Continental highlights the SportContact 7—available in 18- to 24-inch sizes, with OE fitments including Audi, BMW, Porsche, and others—as a core UHP product that has ranked among the top three in 27 of 29 international tire tests since launch.
The full announcement is on Continental’s press site.
