In addition to measuring changes in tread wear, Continental has collaborated with the Technical University of Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) in Germany to develop an innovative “vacuum‑based wear particle collection and analysis system,” essentially a specially designed vacuum device. The system instantly collects fine particulate matter generated behind the wheels and uses high‑precision sensors to analyze the particles’ size, quantity, and structure.

A dedicated test vehicle is used for experiments under real‑world road conditions, equipped with multiple sampling units and sensors to compare differences in tire wear under various driving situations such as cornering and straight‑line driving. According to Dr. Benjamin Oelze, Head of Tire Wear Testing Development at Continental, simultaneous measurements at different positions generate massive amounts of data that enable the team to identify correlations between wear, vehicle speed, and acceleration.

These findings not only help improve tire design, but also have the potential to contribute to smoother traffic flow and lower overall road emissions, aligning with the Euro 7 regulations scheduled to take effect in 2028 and preparing for future emission standards.