Rivian Automotive has specified Continental VanContact A/S all-season tires as an OE option on its RPV 500 and RPV 700 delivery vans. Amazon has ordered 100,000 of the vans.
IRVINE, Calif.—Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive Inc. has specified Continental VanContact A/S all-season tires as an original equipment fitment option on its RPV 500 and RPV 700 delivery vans.
Continental said it developed the tire, in size LT245/70 R16 for the North American market, for the Rivian van, with an emphasis on low rolling resistance, long treadwear and high load capacity.
The EV version of the VanContact differs from "traditional" versions of the same tire in that the EV version was designed to carry higher axle loads and attention was paid to tire life by using a designated rubber compound and tread pattern, Conti said, as per Rivian's specific requirements.
Rivian is developing the RPV delivery vans initially for Amazon.com, which has invested over $1 billion in Rivian and holds a 20-percent ownership stake. Amazon has ordered 100,000 of the vans from Irvine-based Rivian. The 500 and 700 designations refer to the vans' cubic feet capacities.
Rivian's approval of Conti as a tire supplier complements the EV startup's designation of specially engineered versions of the Pirelli Scorpion light truck tire as the exclusive tire fitments on its R1T pickup and R1S SUV.
The tread design of the VanContact A/S features a large number of sipes, Conti said, along with broad lateral grooves and wide longitudinal grooves in the shoulder. These design elements result in improved water distribution and removal to help ensure better braking, aquaplaning and traction performance on wet roads.
The tire, which Conti is making at its plant in Otrokovice, Czech Republic, also has snow traction "ripples" in the shoulder, which interlock into the surface of the snow, ensuring safe performance in snow, Conti said. Block-to-block connections over the entire tread pattern result in high stiffness for solid steering response.
In the van segment, the premium manufacturer provides summer, winter and all-season tires for a wide range of vehicles for commercial and private use. In Europe, Continental provides the all-season tire VanContact A/S Ultra, which is robust, durable and characterized by high mileage as well as very good snow performance.
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