HANOVER, Germany—Continental A.G.'s dandelion rubber-based bicycle tire, Urban Taraxagum, has received a pair of awards recognizing its design and sustainability features.
In June, the Red Dot Award praised the tire's distinctive tread design, which is based on the cell shape of the dandelion. This came just three months after German magazine Focus E-Bike named the tire the E-Bike Design & Innovation Award winner for sustainability.
"We are delighted about the two awards," Thomas Falke, head of Continental's two-wheel tires business unit, said in a statement. "They reflect the particularly successful design and sustainability of our Urban Taraxagum bicycle tire."
Continental's development of dandelion rubber as an alternative source of natural rubber has taken root with the introduction of the bicycle tires, which made their debut in 2018. They're manufactured at the company's plant in Korbach, Germany.
Last year, Continental put its dandelion rubber technology and its Urban Taraxagum tires to the test, partnering with some of the world's top cyclists and the Tour de France. Saying the tire was practical for sporty bikes and racing bikes, Continental produced a limited series of the tires in a 35-622 size for the event.