Continental has developed the new VanContact Winter tyre for light commercial vehicles.

The company says the tyre provides superior safety characteristics on snowy and icy surfaces, and precision handling on snow-covered or wet roads, along with improved fuel efficiency.

The tyre offers greater economy compared to its predecessor, the VancoWinter 2.

Rolling resistance has also been reduced by a substantial 15%, due to an advanced silica compound which lessens tyre deformation on entering the contact patch, thereby reducing energy loss, as well as to an improved overall design.

The VanContact Winter owes its 5% improvement in performance when braking on snow and nine percent improvement when braking in the wet to both its tread compound and its optimized sipe concept.

The new VanContact Winter is now available in 12 sizes, with plans to further expand the product range throughout 2016.