Tyres are going green and it’s good news for fuel consumption

Goodyear has unveiled a prototype tyre comprised of 90% sustainable materials that has the potential to lower fuel consumption as well as the wheel’s overall carbon footprint.

The tyre “passed all applicable regulatory testing as well as Goodyear’s internal testing” and proved to have lower rolling resistance when compared to the reference tyre made of traditional materials.

“Lower rolling resistance means this demonstration tyre has the potential to offer better fuel savings and carbon footprint reduction,” said Goodyear.

17 ingredients, 12 components

The 90% sustainable-material tyre features 17 different ingredients across 12 individual wheel components.

One of the most notable changes is the application of “carbon black” produced from methane, carbon dioxide, plant-based oil, and end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil feedstocks, rather than the traditional petroleum-based ingredient.

Carbon black is put into tyres for compound reinforcement and to help increase their lifespan.

“These carbon black technologies target reduced carbon emissions, circularity, and the use of bio-based carbons, while still delivering on performance,” said Goodyear.

Further reducing Goodyear’s reliance on petroleum-based products is the use of soybean oil, which keeps the rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, as well as bio-renewable pine tree resins which enhance traction.

ISCC-certified polymers consisting of bio- and bio-circular feedstock are also included, as is rice-husk waste (RHW) silica which is capable of reproducing a “high-quality silica” assisting to enhance grip and reduce fuel consumption.

The tyre cords are then made up of post-consumer plastic bottles that were reverted into their chemical state and reformed into technical-grade polyester, and the structural supports come from steel with high-recycled content.

Goodyear plans to bring a 70% sustainable-material wheel to market before the end of 2023, though it said that introducing a 90% sustainable-material product “will require further collaboration with the company’s supply base to identify the scale necessary for these innovative materials to produce that specific tyre at high volumes.”