Tire specialists are seriously studying the possibilities of doing without natural rubber. Goodyear has just taken a significant step forward in this quest.
The tire industry is changing. Natural rubber, the traditional tire component, may soon be a thing of the past. After Michelin, which was studying the possibility of using recycled plastic, it is the turn of Goodyear, another major player, to take action. The American company has announced that it is working on a new tire model made up of 90% recyclable materials. This new product is anything but experimental, it would even be about to be marketed.
The company has been working for several years to add recyclable materials to the composition of its products. But this tire reaches a new stage by being mainly made of recycled materials. A year ago, the American company indicated that the development of the tire had enabled it to achieve 70% recycled materials. Indeed, it is made of soybean oil and recycled bottles. The manufacturer specifies that the soybean oil used is borrowed from the animal feed industry and that it does not require any particular exploitation. As for the plastic from the bottles, it is used to make the “cord” of the tire, that is to say the layer located just under the tread and which is put to use when the vehicle is going fast.
Are soybean oil tires woke?
The tire in question has several advantages in addition to being the result of recycling. Indeed, according to Goodyear, it would also offer less rolling resistance. Concretely, this would reduce consumption, whether in fuel or electricity, but also the life of the tire.
Still under development, the tire made of recycled materials would still pass its final tests before being approved. The company plans to market it this year, in its 70% recyclable version. But, Goodyear does not intend to stop there and if the objective of 90% has already been reached, at least in its test version, it is indeed a tire made up of 100% recycled materials that Goodyear aims, and that, before 2030.
Goodyear
