Goodyear introduces a new eco-friendly tire

The American tire manufacturer Goodyear today introduces a new rubber compound containing 90% sustainable materials.

Although it is generally less criticized, the tire industry still produces numerous pollutants. These are generated during its manufacturing process, notably through the use of synthetic rubber. Since it is produced through chemical synthesis from petroleum-derived compounds, it contributes to environmental contamination. When the tire degrades, its other toxic materials also release fine particles, which are very harmful to health and the environment.

To anticipate increasingly strict regulations, manufacturers have taken proactive steps. They are now offering more eco-friendly tire ranges. We previously mentioned Michelin in an article on Mobiwisy. Now, the American giant Goodyear is also venturing into this new endeavor with a new rubber compound made of 90% sustainable materials.

“We are making progress toward our goal of commercializing the world’s first 100% sustainable tire by 2030,” explains Chris Helsel, Vice President of Manufacturing and Technology at Goodyear. “Last year was pivotal in achieving this goal. We explored new technologies, identified collaboration opportunities. Our teams have been persistent, not only to demonstrate our ability to produce a tire composed of 90% sustainable materials but also to produce a tire containing up to 70% sustainable materials this year. Our team continues to innovate and commit to building a better future.”“

More Environmentally Friendly Ingredients

The Goodyear tire is composed of 17 ingredients. Among them, some are carefully selected to better respect the environment:

• Soy oil, a bio-based resource that reduces the impact of petroleum-based materials by utilizing significant excess oil that can be used in industrial applications.
• Carbon black, produced from methane, carbon dioxide, vegetable oil, and pyrolysis oil derived from end-of-life tires. Carbon black helps reduce carbon emissions and supports circular economy initiatives.
• Bio-renewable pine resins, to enhance the traction performance of the tires.
• Recycled polyester made from plastic bottles.
• Silica, produced from rice husk ash, to improve grip and reduce fuel consumption.
• Polymers derived from bio-based and circular raw materials.

The new Goodyear tire has passed regulatory and internal testing by the American manufacturer and should soon be available on the market. According to Goodyear, its performance would be comparable to that of more traditional tires. However, it is very likely that the price will be higher.

Read also: Michelin: New Eco-friendly Tires