The tire has been of vital importance in the history of the automobile and, of course, in the evolution of human mobility. Currently, the automotive industry is in the midst of the electrification process and there is an ambition to achieve a circular economy, with full use of sustainable products and components.
In this necessary process to fight against climate change, the role of the tire is fundamental and this is how its manufacturers have understood it, who have been working for some time on the integration of more sustainable materials in the manufacture of their covers. A sustainable tire is one that contributes to reducing the carbon footprint in all phases of the process, from when it is projected to when it rolls on the vehicle.
However, the road to achieve full sustainability is still long. In the market industry itself there is no full consensus around the common and strict definition of what makes a material sustainable and a transformation of industrial methods and processes is necessary.
The keys to a sustainable tire are headed by the use of new technologies and materials in its construction. These technologies are related to the structure and other influencing factors are weight -it must be reduced- and tread, which must reduce rolling resistance.
In the development and testing process, digital simulations make it possible to reduce actual testing, a factor that helps reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
An example of a recently launched sustainable tire is the Bridgestone Turanza 6, which allows its use in thermal, electric and hybrid vehicles. It is one of the products born out of their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
Goodyear, for example, has a tire made from 70% sustainable materials, but it has already presented a prototype that has 90% of them and has passed the applicable regulatory approval tests.
This Goodyear prototype tire includes components such as carbon black produced from clean technologies, soybean oil, silica produced from rice hull waste, recycled polyester, bio-renewable pine resins and high-material content steel cord. recycling.
Destined to equip electrified vehicles, the new Pirelli P Zero E tire about to be launched integrates innovations at the service of sustainable mobility. It is produced with more than 55% materials of natural or recycled origin and has constant performance from the first to the last km of its useful life.
For its part, Michelin has road-approved tourism tires that incorporate 45% sustainable materials. The objective of the French brand is to produce tires with 100% sustainable materials by the year 2050. The Michelin Group is also working on the transformation of its production centers, in response to new challenges, with the sustainability factor as one of its priority axes.
