Japan’s Toyo Tires says it has developed a concept tyre using 90% sustainable materials, as a step forward towards a more viable future mobility. Until now, the highest ever usage rate of sustainable materials in one of its tyres was 50%. This achievement was made in the Open Country tyres used in the 2024 Dakar Rallye. This latest development surpasses this share, claims the company. The tyre was exhibited recently at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 held at Makuhari Messe
Sustainable materials can be broadly divided into “renewable materials” that can be recycled, such as naturally derived materials, and “recycled materials” that are reused from materials that have already been used in some way.
This concept tyre uses renewable materials such as biomass-derived butadiene rubber, biomass-derived styrene-butadiene rubber, rice husk ash silica, plant-derived oil, and bio-derived polyester fiber (approximately 60% of the total), and recycled materials.
The company also says it uses CO2-derived butadiene rubber, which was successfully developed jointly with Toyama University in Japan, as well as recovered carbon black, recycled bead wire, and recycled steel cord (approximately 30% of the total).
The goal is to achieve a usage rate of 40% in 2030 and 100% in 2050. This concept tyre is a development product that serves as a stepping stone to that goal.
Furthermore, Toyo says the tyre minimises the rolling resistance coefficient, which greatly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the tyre lifecycle and improving the cruising range of electric vehicles.
It also claims the tyre achieves the highest grade for rolling resistance in the Japanese tyre labelling system.
In the future, Toyo Tires adds it will advance further technological innovations toward practical application, developing and marketing products that will contribute to the realisation of a sustainable mobility society.