Goodyear unveils sustainable tire using recycled PET, bio-based materials

Goodyear unveiled a demonstration tire comprised of 90 percent sustainable materials on Jan. 4 — proving the company's ability to produce a consumer tire with a high level of sustainable material content — with plans to sell a 70-percent sustainable tire in 2023.

The Akron, Ohio-based tire maker said the demonstration tire passed all regulatory and internal testing. It also offered the potential for fuel savings and a reduced carbon footprint due to its lower rolling resistance compared to a reference tire made from traditional materials.

The demonstration tire is made up of 17 sustainable ingredients — defined as bio-based/renewable, recycled material or material produced via sustainable practices — across 12 different tire components.

This includes four different types of carbon black for compound reinforcement produced from methane, carbon dioxide, plant-based oil and end-of-life tire pyrolysis feedstock; soybean oil for compound pliability in changing temperatures; silica produced from rice husk waste residue (RHA silica) for improved grip and reduced fuel consumption; polyester recycled from post-consumer bottles for use in tire cords; bio-renewable pine tree resins for enhanced tire traction and performance; bead wire and steel cord from steel with high-recycled content for structural reinforcement; and ISCC-certified mass balance polymers from bio- and bio-circular feedstocks.

Today, Goodyear boasts eight product lines—and some racing tires — that include soybean oil, and it has more than doubled its use of RHA silica since 2018.

While bringing a tire comprised of 90-percent sustainable materials will require further collaboration with its supply base, the company said, Goodyear is working to bring a tire with up to 70 percent sustainable material content to market in 2023.

"With the introduction of a tire with up to 70 percent sustainable-material content, Goodyear is demonstrating tangible commitment with in-market solutions to building a better future," the company said.

Chris Helsel, senior vice president of global operations and chief technology officer at Goodyear, said this past year has been "pivotal" for the tire maker toward achieving its goal of producing a 100 percent sustainable tire.

"We continue to make progress toward our goal of introducing the first 100-percent sustainable-material tire in the industry by 2030," Helsel said.

"We researched new technologies, identified opportunities for further collaboration and utilized our team's tenacity to not only demonstrate our capabilities to produce a 90-percent sustainable-material tire, but to also produce a tire with up to 70 percent sustainable-material content this year. Our team continues to showcase its innovation and commitment to building a better future."