Goodyear reveals prototype sustainable tires

MANILA: Goodyear announced the release of a prototype tire made from 70% sustainable-material content. 

The Goodyear 70% sustainable-material tire includes 13 featured ingredients across nine different tire components, including those described below. The tire manufacturer found that these components contribute to strong overall tire performance.

Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement to help increase their life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products.

Goodyear’s new tire features three different carbon blacks that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, and plant-based oil. These can help reduce carbon emissions, compared with current methods of carbon black production or the use of bio-based or waste feedstock sources.

The use of soybean oil helps keep a Goodyear tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that reduces Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. 

Silica is often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. Goodyear’s new tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.

Lastly, polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste. Polyester is reformed into its base chemicals and added into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords. 

“We set an ambitious goal in 2020 to create a tire made 100% from sustainable materials in 10 years, and our scientists and engineers have made great progress toward that goal,” Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear Chris Helsel announced in a release. 

Photos from Goodyear

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