The tire brand Semperit has turned 120 years old

In 2026, the Austrian tire brand Semperit, which is now owned by the Continental conglomerate, celebrates its 120th anniversary, making it one of the oldest in the industry.

The history of the tire brand is linked to the first rubber goods factory in Europe, launched in Wimpassing, Austria in 1850. In 1896, the RTI plant in Traiskirchen was also opened, and four years later, the production of passenger car tires began, and in 1906, they started being produced under the Semperit brand (which can be roughly translated from Latin as "always on the go").

In the 1920s, the demand for tires for large vehicles grew, as a result of which, in 1927, the production of tires for trucks and buses was mastered, and in 1936, the first Semperit winter tire, called Goliath, was introduced, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary. In 1963, the first studded tire was released to the market, which, according to the company, instantly became a bestseller, and in 1967, the company began producing tires with a radial structure.

In 1984, the company underwent restructuring, and tire production became a separate company, Semperit Reifen AG (RTI still produces Semperit AG), which the following year became part of Continental.

In 1988, the Direction-Grip tire was released to the market, which the company calls the first industry-wide winter model with a directional tread, designed for use at high speeds, and in 2020, the first all-season tires of the brand were introduced — AllSeason-Grip for passenger cars and Van-AllSeason for commercial vehicles.

Last year, the all-season AllSeason-Grip 2 was added to the brand's lineup, which is available, among other things, in sizes with an increased diameter, and the company says that it constantly works on developing the range.

"We have been accumulating experience for 120 years, and we still invariably look to the future," said Semperit. "That's why we develop tires for the mobility of the future, with excellent grip, high mileage, and, of course, fully suitable for use on electric cars."