Continental to Add More Than 650 UHP Tyre Sizes by 2027

Continental plans to add more than 650 ultra-high-performance tyre sizes by the end of 2027, extending its coverage of original equipment and replacement markets worldwide. The programme comes as tyres measuring 18 inches and above have grown from 41% to 55% of the manufacturer's global passenger-car tyre sales across all brands since 2020.

The new sizes will be introduced across Continental's major global markets and will include ranges sold under the Continental brand as well as secondary brands including Semperit and Uniroyal.

Continental defines ultra-high-performance, or UHP, tyres in this programme as products measuring 18 inches and above. The additions will cover both original equipment fitments and the replacement business, although the company has not disclosed how the 650-plus sizes will be divided by brand, region or channel.

The scale of the programme reflects the growing contribution of larger-diameter tyres to Continental's existing passenger-car business.

Across all of its tyre brands, UHP products accounted for 55% of global passenger-car tyre sales in 2025, compared with 41% in 2020. For the Continental brand alone, the proportion increased from about 49% to 62% over the same period.

There are also substantial regional differences. Continental says 18-inch-plus products accounted for 70% of its passenger-car tyre sales in Asia-Pacific during 2025 and 66% in the Americas. In EMEA, the share was 43%.

The manufacturer links the shift towards larger tyre sizes to changes in the vehicle market, including the growth of SUVs, heavier vehicles and electrified powertrains, as well as greater performance requirements. Larger model ranges and differing specifications between vehicles are also increasing the number of fitments tyre manufacturers need to cover.

Continental has previously identified the growing proportion of 18-inch-plus tyres as a positive contributor to the Tires business. Its 2025 results attributed part of the division's margin performance to the increasing UHP sales mix, while first-half 2026 results again identified a higher share of tyres measuring 18 inches and above among the drivers of improved profitability.

The latest portfolio programme does not, however, indicate a corresponding increase in production volume or manufacturing capacity. Continental has not published its current global UHP size count, making it difficult to measure the 650-plus additions as a percentage increase on the existing range.

Production of Continental UHP tyres extends to sizes up to 24 inches. The company's established products in the segment include the SportContact 7, which is offered for high-performance combustion-engine and electric vehicles and carries original-equipment approvals for selected models from several vehicle manufacturers.

For wholesalers and retailers, the expansion will increase Continental's coverage of a part of the passenger-car market that already represents the majority of its sales globally. The exact effect on individual markets will depend on how the planned sizes are distributed between brands, product lines and regions as the programme progresses through 2027.

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Tags: Continental tyres, UHP tyres, ultra-high-performance tyres, 18-inch tyres, large-diameter tyres, Semperit, Uniroyal, SportContact 7, OE tyres, replacement tyres

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