From Continental they present us with the latest in technological matters related to their range of tires: TractionSkin. We are faced with a manufacturing system that eliminates the use of that waxy coating and replaces it with a different finish on the mold itself. An efficient way to eliminate what is known as “break-in”, offering extra safety to the rider when handling their motorcycle.
Continental TractionSkin in detail
Getting new tires on a motorcycle has always been a special moment. The feeling of new rubber provides security, but it is also accompanied by a warning among motorists: the first kilometers must be taken calmly. This adaptation period, which we know as “break-in”, is almost a ritual that forces you to drive gently until the tire begins to show its full potential.
It’s been like this for years, and anyone who’s ever fitted new tires knows it: the first corners are carefully negotiated, braking is gentle and lean is more limited than usual. It is not a question of superstition, but of physics and how tires are made. However, Continental has found a way to eliminate that procedure with its TractionSkin technology, which turns the insecurity of debuts into confidence from the first meter.
The break-in has nothing to do with the rubber being “green” or lacking quality. Actually, the explanation lies in the manufacturing process. At the end of a tire’s production, a wax-like compound or lubricant is used to help it come out of the mold without damage. This coating, which gives it that shiny and smooth appearance, so characteristic, has a drawback: it offers very little adhesion when in contact with the asphalt.
Therefore, in the first kilometers the surface of the tire needs to wear slightly, eliminate that thin layer and begin to offer the level of grip for which it was designed. Manufacturers usually recommend about 100 or 200 kilometers of running time, avoiding aggressive inclinations, strong acceleration or sudden braking. A time in which the pilot has to be more attentive than usual and, in practice, drive with caution.
The problem is obvious: Just when you need the most confidence (because you are new tires and want to feel safe) is when you have to hold back. And if you change your wheels right before a trip or an important outing, that wait can be uncomfortable or even risky.
Aware of this limitation, Continental engineers asked themselves a simple question: “What if the tire could offer real grip from the first kilometer?” The answer came with TractionSkin, a technology that eliminates the use of that waxy coating and replaces it with a different finish on the mold itself.
Instead of a shiny, slippery tire, Continental makes the tread surface come out of the mold with a micro-rough texture. Thousands of small irregularities that act as additional contact points and increase grip from the first moment.
In other words, while in a conventional tire you have to “wake up” the rubber over many kilometers, a tire with TractionSkin is already prepared as soon as it leaves the workshop. The technology does not change the essence of the compound or its durability, but it does eliminate the period of insecurity that all motorcyclists know.
The advantages of this innovation are noticeable from the first kilometer. A tire with TractionSkin offers:
- Almost total elimination of filming: no need to wait for a layer of wax to disappear, because it never existed.
- More safety in the first meters: ideal in emergency situations or on trips where the tire change coincides with the departure.
- Greater confidence for the rider: there is no need to go “on eggshells”, you can enjoy the bike from the beginning.
- Reduction of risks in the wet: where a newly mounted conventional tire can be especially delicate, the TractionSkin is already optimized.
- For many motorcyclists this simply means peace of mind. New tires are no longer an adaptation phase and become a safe starting point.
Models that incorporate TractionSkin
TractionSkin technology is present in several models of the Continental range. It is not limited to a specific segment, but appears in both sport tires and in touring or trail options. Some examples are:
- ContiRoadAttack 4, designed for sport-touring use with a high level of grip and durability.
- ContiSportAttack 4, with a sportier approach and high performance on the road.
- ContiTrailAttack 3, designed for trail bikes that alternate road and trails.
- ContiAttack SM 2 and SM EVO, developed to offer high performance in both supermotard motorcycles and low and medium displacement sports motorcycles.
- ContiClassicAttack, the ideal tire for classic or retro design motorcycles.
- ContiRoadAttack 3 CR, perfect for Classic Sport and Classic Superbike racing.
- ContiSportAttack 2, a high-performance supersport for road use.
For more information about Continental’s new TractionSkin technology or any of the models that currently use it, you can access the brand’s official website or visit your nearest distributor.
