While many companies are working to become more sustainable in the future, Goodyear has strived to make sustainable automotive tires for the masses. Goodyear makes these new tires from 17 ingredients in 12 different components, from soybean oil to biorenewable pine resins. If you’re interested in putting some of these sustainable Goodyear tires on your next car, truck, or SUV, read on to find out how these tires are made.
Goodyear manufactures its new sustainable tires from rice husk ash
Good year recently announced that it had made progress to have a 100% sustainable material tire by 2030. The company recently announced a tire made with 70% sustainable material content that will be available by 2023. Goodyear previously announced a prototype tire, but this version recently passed all tests.
“This is an exciting achievement that demonstrates our commitment to increasing the use of sustainable materials in our tires.”
Chris Helsell | Goodyear, senior vice president of global operations and chief technology officer
Goodyear makes the new tires with 13 featured ingredients in nine different components. One of those ingredients is carbon black, included to help extend tire life and as a compound reinforcement. Goodyear used three types of carbon black in production: methane, carbon dioxide, and vegetable oil.
“Initial life cycle assessments demonstrate reduced carbon emissions compared to current carbon black production methods or use of bio-based or waste feedstock sources,” Good year He says. That means passenger cars like the Toyota Highlander SUV could use these new tires, along with other popular vehicles.
Goodyear’s sustainable tires also use leftover soybean oil from food applications
Soybean oil is an important recent innovation that helps keep Goodyear’s new sustainable tires flexible when the temperature changes. Using soybean oil helps reduce dependency on petroleum products. Most of the soy protein is used in animal feed/food, but Goodyear can use the surplus in industrial applications such as tire production.
Silica is another ingredient that helps improve tire grip and reduces fuel consumption. Goodyear used rice hull ash, a byproduct of rice processing that companies typically dispose of in landfills. Production uses recycled bottles and other plastic waste that has been converted to base chemicals reformed into “technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords.”
On top of that, bio-renewable pine resin helped improve tire traction and replaced traditional petroleum-based resin. High recycled content steel bead wire and steel cord help reinforce the tire’s structure. It’s not clear if these tires would be specifically for an electric vehicle like the Tesla Model 3 or a gasoline-powered vehicle.
You may see these tires on the market this year.
Goodyear launched a website for its new tires made from sustainable materials, allowing drivers to sign up for more information. When signing up, the company wants to know if you’ll be using the tires on an electric, hybrid, or gasoline-powered vehicle. If all goes to plan, production of these Goodyear sustainable tires will start later this year.
Says Helsel: “We continue to make progress towards our goal of introducing the industry’s first 100% sustainable material tire by 2030.” The new tires also include ISCC-certified mass balance polymers from biocircular and biocircular feedstock, which only adds to the benefits. ISCC is a sustainability certification system to help identify and certify companies that follow these standards.
Keep an eye out for Goodyear’s tire testing on a Tesla Model 3 as it did with its airless tires. You never know where sustainable tires will show up next.