Goodyear has created a prototype tire containing 90% sustainable supplies that the corporate additionally believes may enhance gas financial system and EV vary.
Known as a “demonstration tire” by the corporate, the tire is not prepared for manufacturing, however has handed all relevant regulatory testing, in addition to Goodyear’s inside testing, based on a press launch. That testing additionally confirmed decrease rolling resistance than a comparable standard tire, which helps enhance effectivity and thus lower the quantity of gas or electrical energy wanted to go a sure distance.
The demonstration tire makes use of 17 substances which can be sustainable, or no less than have a decrease environmental influence than standard tire supplies, throughout 12 tire elements.
Goodyear tire manufacturing
That features 4 several types of carbon black, a standard ingredient in tires that is used to bolster the rubber compound. Carbon black is often made by burning petroleum merchandise, however Goodyear used methane, carbon dioxide, plant-based oil, and end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil as feedstocks, which the corporate claims reduces carbon emissions.
One other inexperienced ingredient is soybean oil, which is used to maintain the rubber compound pliable in numerous temperatures. It replaces petroleum-based merchandise, and is sourced from leftover soy from meals and animal feed, based on Goodyear. The corporate is already utilizing soybean oil in some manufacturing tires, together with racing tires.
Additionally included are silica produced from rice husk waste residue, polyester from recycled bottles, pine-tree resin, and polymers from bio feedstock. The metal for this radial tire’s cords is produced from a excessive stage of recycled content material, produced in an electrical arc furnace that enables for each extra recycled content material and fewer power use, Goodyear claims.
Goodyear tire produced from 70% sustainable materials
This tire is not going into manufacturing, however Goodyear does plan to start out producing a tire with 70% sustainable supplies this yr. This comes only a yr after Goodyear showed a concept tire with 70% sustainable content material.
Goodyear is not the one firm making an attempt to make tires extra sustainable. Bridgestone has been creating natural-rubber tires with desert shrubs from the American Southwest, whereas Michelin and Hyundai have partnered to make tires extra environmentally pleasant.
Goodyear additionally has some extra far-out tire ideas. the corporate stated final yr that it is creating airless tires, and in 2020 it confirmed a regenerating tire concept aimed toward lowering waste. Goodyear hasn’t mentioned a agency timeline for commercializing these designs, however for now elevated sustainable content material is a vital purpose.
