Goodyear’s sustainable tyre of the future will last for 300,000 MILES

One of the various consumable parts of a car is the tires, which on average last about 25,000 miles before needing to be replaced.

Buying four new tires at once can be an expensive process, especially if you own a sports car or SUV with fat wheels.

In the future, however, there may be a tire that will last longer than the vehicle it is mounted on. Manufacturer Goodyear is developing a compound tread made from sustainable materials such as rice husk, sunflower oil and pine resin.

And he claims he doesn’t wear out more than 300,000 miles!

Goodyear calls its concept tire the Eagle GO.

The evolutionary rubber compound made its debut on Citroën Oli’s recently unveiled electric vehicle – a future £22,000 SUV that itself is largely made from 100 per cent recycled material, including some recycled cardboard panels.

The tire manufacturer says it will help optimize “efficiency, durability and comfort” of vehicles, while also being environmentally friendly.

That’s because the tread – the part of the tire that wears out – is made from ‘almost all’ sustainable or recycled materials.

These can be divided into three different types.

The first are sunflower oils and pine resins, which are a renewable alternative to petroleum-derived oils, which Goodyear says it wants to get rid of by 2040. These are already being used to make vegetable inks for printers.

The second material used in the tire’s construction is natural rubber from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is again a greener substitute for petroleum-based synthetic rubber.

The last element is rice husk – the hard protective shells of rice grains.

When the chaff is burned, an ash silica is formed, which can be used as a building material, fertilizer, insulation material or fuel.

It has a number of advantages for tires, not least because of its high porosity and ability to reduce wear due to its strength and durability.

The combination of three durable elements also means that the tires can be ‘renewed’ twice during their lifetime, rather than having to be replaced right away.

This would be music to the ears of hypercar owners, with a set of four Bugatti Veyron tires costing a dazzling £32,000 to replace.

Goodyear claims that the durable casing, renewable tread and the potential to reuse any tire gives them a total life of 500,000 km, which amounts to 310,686 miles.

Laurent Colantonio, Goodyear’s regional technology director, said of the tire’s capabilities: “Tyre architecture has come a long way by integrating sustainable materials and smart technologies.

‘We have a relationship with Citroën that offers a great testing ground for developing and testing new technologies and techniques.

“Concept tires are a great way for Goodyear to research and develop groundbreaking technologies that can find their way into our products.

“The lessons of this project will carry forward to our future as a mobility promoter who consistently innovates its products and services.”

Michelin develops airless tires for the future

Rival tire brands are also working on their own designs for rubber for the future, with Michelin trying to end punctures by creating an airless tyre.

The French manufacturer teamed up with General Motors in 2019 to unveil a product it said had been in development for nearly two decades and would require no maintenance.

The so-called Uptis tire (unique puncture-proof tire system) is made of resin-embedded fiberglass and an aluminum wheel.

At the unveiling, Michelin said it hoped to have the Uptis on the market by 2025.

Its creation requires up to 50 patents to protect the technology and its makers claim it can replicate the performance of current tires while being better for the environment, more durable and cheaper.

‘This is a revolutionary prototype. We have proven that this concept is not a dream,” said Michelin executive vice president Erick Vinesse when the tire was first unveiled.

“This means less stress and more peace of mind – knowing that there is no longer the risk of being on the side of the road due to a flat tyre,” he added.

Michelin added that the design could also be 3D printed and would be more durable and likely improve fuel economy.

‘The sustainability aspect is crucial for the next ten years’, explains Mr Vinesse.

‘We have the ambition to be 80 percent renewable in everything in the next 30 years.

“We need to move towards a more sustainable future in which we can offer solutions that have less impact on the environment in general. There is a global benefit for society and everyone.’