Michelin announced Wednesday that it has approved car tires made of 45% “
sustainable
” materials, compared to 29% today, foreshadowing tires that several tire giants intend to put on the market soon.
Based on natural rubber to replace rubber from petroleum, carbon black from old tires, vegetable oils and resins, recycled scrap metal, these tires have the same performance as the ranges currently on the market, assured Michelin during a press conference in Fontanafredda, near its factory in Cuneo (northern Italy).
The French manufacturer also announced that it had reached a 58% share of “
sustainable
” materials in another model of tire designed for buses.
These two projects were developed within the framework of a research program supported by the French government.
Michelin intends to market "
within two to three years
" tires incorporating these sustainable materials, particularly in Europe, where car manufacturers are looking for ways to lower their CO2 emissions.
In total, road transport accounts for around 15% of global emissions, according to data from the International Energy Agency.
Tire makers are experimenting
Adapting to the rise in the price of raw materials and to limit their emissions, tire manufacturers are multiplying their experiments to incorporate sustainable and recycled materials into their tires.
Read alsoSources of fine particles, should tires be removed?
At the end of September, Continental presented a bus tire in Germany, also approved, made of 50% renewable or recycled materials.
Like Michelin, it uses vegetable oils and silica from rice husks.
At the same time, Goodyear presented a truck tire concept incorporating 63% renewable materials.
The American manufacturer aims to do without petroleum-derived oils by 2040.
Finland's Nokian Tires has reached 93% recycled or renewable materials on a prototype, and is aiming for 50% recycled or renewable raw materials by 2030. Pirelli is aiming for 43% for 2025, and Bridgestone 40% for 2030, just like Michelin.
If the Bibendum is already testing these solutions in motorsport, it is "
a little early
" to say what additional cost they could cause, said Bruno de Feraudy, who heads the line of tires for new cars from the French manufacturer.
