Sustainable Truck Tires: Innovations for a Greener Future
In an effort to reduce its environmental impact, the trucking industry may start using some unique ingredients to manufacture it’s tires.
Dandelions, rice husks and soybean oil are just a few examples of materials that tire manufacturers are starting to work with. Pressure is mounting to decarbonize and manufacturers are focusing on the significant role that tires play in achieving sustainability goals.
The tires of the future may still resemble their traditional round and black counterparts, but the materials used to make them are poised for a drastic change. Jessica Julian, the head of product marketing at Goodyear Tire & Rubber, revealed that one concept truck tire replaces the petroleum content with a small amount of soybean oil, while maintaining the same performance. However, truly sustainable tires are not expected to hit the market immediately as further validation is required. Nonetheless, progress is well underway.
Revolutionizing Tire Material Production
Goodyear’s sustainable commercial tire incorporates 15 sustainable elements distributed across 20 components within the tire. These elements include soybean oil, rice oil, rapeseed oil, and ash. Julian showcased these advancements at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s spring meeting, emphasizing the potential for incorporating these sustainable practices into other tires in Goodyear’s portfolio.
Continental Tire, on the other hand, sees dandelions as a promising replacement for natural rubber in tires. Although natural rubber derived from rubber trees is renewable, the trees take seven years to mature before producing the latex needed for rubber production. Their growth is restricted to a limited geographic area, creating a demand-supply imbalance. Dandelions may offer an alternative solution. Continental has already developed and tested car tires with treads made entirely from natural rubber derived from dandelions and plans to introduce them commercially within the next five to ten years. A specific breed of Russian dandelion with natural rubber latex in its roots is required for this application. This alternative source provides advantages such as reduced sensitivity to weather conditions, shorter lifecycle, improved supply consistency, and lower transportation-related emissions.
Michelin, a pioneer in tire innovation, has taken a different approach by exploring airless tires. These tires, first unveiled at the Movin’ On sustainability conference in 2017, are composed entirely of biosourced materials and do not require air. Michelin’s Vision concept tire features a rechargeable tread that can be customized using a 3D printer, allowing for tread changes based on weather conditions or route preferences. While this technology may become a reality within the next 10-15 years, the Vision tire showcased Michelin’s commitment to sustainable materials by incorporating components such as orange peels, cardboard, used metal, molasses, and other waste materials.
Trucking Industry Driving Towards Green Mobility
As the transition towards zero-emission transportation gains momentum, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is rising. Consequently, specific tires tailored for electric trucks and buses are entering the market. Goodyear’s RangeMax RSD regional drive tire, introduced this year, is suitable for both EVs and diesel-powered vehicles due to its low rolling resistance. In the case of urban buses, tire engineering must account for the additional weight of batteries, unlike truck tires designed to handle heavier gross vehicle weights. By reducing rolling resistance, these tires extend battery range and contribute to the efficiency of EV fleets.
While tire casings can be recycled through retreading, additional measures can be taken to minimize tire waste in landfills. Continental aims to eliminate tire waste within its own channels by 2025, ensuring that no tires from their stores or company-owned factories end up in landfills. They plan to implement a pyrolysis process, which uses thermal decomposition to break down waste tires into raw materials like carbon black and steel, which can then be used to create new tires. Although the pyrolysis process is currently expensive, cost reduction efforts are underway to make it more accessible.
Retreading offers a sustainable solution at the fleet level, significantly reducing the environmental impact of tires. Saun Uys, head of Continental U.S. market for truck tire replacements, explains that retreading is a form of renewable energy that lowers fleet costs while delivering substantial environmental benefits. According to Bandag, using 18 retreaded tires on a truck saves enough manufacturing energy to power 482 homes for a day. Retreading also contributes to reductions in CO2 emissions, natural resource extraction, water consumption, air pollution, and resource land use compared to using virgin replacement tires. Fleets that adopt retreading can integrate these initiatives into their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports, simultaneously lowering costs and improving sustainability.
Key Focus on Innovation and Safety
The future of tires is on an exciting path towards sustainability. With ongoing research and development, tire manufacturers are exploring innovative materials and production methods to reduce their environmental footprint. As these advancements continue to evolve, the truck tire industry moves closer to achieving its decarbonization goals while maintaining performance and safety standards.
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