smart #5 Electric SUV Launches with Continental EcoContact 7 Tires Designed for Range and Quiet Driving

Thanks to the latest tire technologies, the EcoContact 7 ensures a high level of energy efficiency and quiet driving.

(IN BRIEF) Continental has been chosen as the original equipment tire supplier for the new smart #5 electric SUV, which will be equipped with the company’s EcoContact 7 tires as standard. Available in sizes 255/45 R20 and 255/40 R21, the tires are designed to support electric vehicle efficiency by reducing rolling resistance and improving aerodynamics. Features such as the aerodimple sidewall structure, specialized materials that lower internal friction, and an energy-efficient rubber compound help reduce energy loss and extend driving range. The tires also incorporate a silent-pattern tread designed to minimize rolling noise, particularly in urban driving conditions. Together, these technologies make the EcoContact 7 well suited for electric vehicles like the smart #5, offering a balance of efficiency, durability, and driving comfort.

(PRESS RELEASE) HANOVER, 10-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Continental has been selected as an original equipment tire supplier for the new smart #5, the largest model in the smart vehicle lineup to date. The all-electric SUV will come factory-equipped with Continental’s EcoContact 7 tires, designed to enhance efficiency, driving comfort, and range for electric vehicles.

The new smart #5 will be fitted with EcoContact 7 tires in sizes 255/45 R20 and 255/40 R21 as standard. Both versions of the premium summer tire carry a speed rating of up to 240 km/h and feature the XL designation, indicating reinforced load capacity suitable for larger vehicles such as electric SUVs.

Continental developed the EcoContact 7 to maximize energy efficiency while maintaining durability and performance. The tire incorporates aerodynamic features and advanced materials aimed at reducing energy consumption and extending driving range—key factors for electric mobility.

One of the design elements contributing to this efficiency is an aerodynamic sidewall structure inspired by the dimples found on a golf ball. Known as the aerodimple design, this structure reduces air turbulence behind the tire, helping to decrease aerodynamic drag and allowing the vehicle to maintain motion with lower energy expenditure.

The smart #5 comes factory-fitted with EcoContact 7 tires. The combination of exceptional efficiency, high mileage, and low rolling noise makes this tire the ideal solution for electric vehicles.
© smart Europe GmbH

The tire also integrates newly engineered materials within its carcass, inner lining, and sidewall construction. These materials reduce internal friction within the tire, which lowers rolling resistance and improves overall energy efficiency. Additionally, an optimized rubber compound further contributes to reducing energy loss during driving.

Beyond efficiency improvements, Continental has focused on enhancing driving comfort with a newly developed silent-pattern tread design. This tread pattern helps minimize rolling noise, particularly in urban environments where vehicles frequently operate at speeds around 50 km/h. The design is tuned to address the sound frequencies most commonly generated during city driving.

By combining low rolling resistance, extended mileage, and reduced noise levels, the EcoContact 7 is designed to meet the performance and efficiency requirements of modern electric vehicles. The tire’s characteristics align with the needs of EV manufacturers seeking to maximize vehicle range while maintaining driving comfort and safety.

The EcoContact 7 tire line is approved for the smart #5 in numerous markets worldwide in the following configurations: 255/45 R20 105 V XL FR and 255/40 R21 102 V XL FR.

Media contact:

Katharina Bühmann
Spokeswoman Technology, Innovation & Original Equipment
Continental Tires
+49 151 68984652
katharina.buehmann@conti.de

SOURCE: Continental AG