Tyres provided by German giant Continental are acting as friction rollers in the operation of Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel.

The tyres are essential for the smooth and consistent rotation of the wheel and serve as friction rollers in the drive systems at either end of the boarding platform to keep the observation wheel turning on its slow and steady rotation.

Ain Dubai chose Continental’s TerminalMaster tyres for the job and 64 units of the tyre are installed at the wheel, which turn with the help of hydraulic motors. According to the operators of Ain Dubai, the tyres were chosen for their durability and strength.

The model chosen – the 310/80R22.5 TerminalMaster TL - is produced for terminal tractors or trailers and is a heavy-duty tyre built to withstand extremely harsh conditions and huge payloads while providing a long service life. Each tyre measures 1,070 millimetres in diameter and weighs in at 77.75kg – huge in comparison to the 635mm diameter and average 8-10kg weight of a typical road tyre for a sedan.

The tubeless tyre features an extra-deep tread profile and industrial-strength casing, with a higher resistance to damage and punctures than standard tyres. Continental adds that its reinforced bead construction, special wear-resistant compound and S-shaped cross ribs allow excellent traction in all conditions. These qualities all combine to produce a long-serving, high-performance product, suitable for the hours of operation and high levels of safety required for the operation of Ain Dubai, said the manufacturer.

To further optimise the tyres’ performance, each is digitally monitored by ContiConnect and ContiPressureCheck – telematic systems that give continuous feedback on each tyre’s condition and advance notification if corrective actions related to the tyres are needed. These intelligent solutions are displayed on a web portal or app, that can deliver reports and analytics in addition to the constant monitoring. This intelligent technology means each tyre runs at optimum pressure and gives maximum uptime, which also equates to supreme safety, along with energy efficiency and a long lifespan.

Continental’s tyres have long been used in the operation of the London Eye – the UK capital’s observation wheel, launched in 1999. The Ain Dubai is even larger than the London Eye and has 11,200 tonnes of steel, 2,400 kilometres of cable and capacity for up to 1,750 persons across 48 cabins.

Continental said it is an official partner of Ain Dubai and will host events at the destination in the coming months.