Destined For The Landfill: How Tire Companies Are Producing Tires That Are Healthier For The Environment

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. You've probably heard the phrase uttered over and over again since you were a kid. It's a simple concept that requires us to find a productive use for our waste, while simultaneously keeping our environment clean. For tire manufacturers this has always been a difficult task.

In 2007 the Department of Transportation estimated that there were roughly 254.4 million passenger vehicles registered in the United States, and the number is rising. This number does not include commercial vehicles, vehicles used for farming, etc.

When you consider the fact that each vehicle operates on 4 tires (motorcycles and tricycles using two and three tires respectively), and  most drivers travel with a spare tire, you're looking at over one billion different tires touching down on U.S. pavement each year. With the average life of each tire ending at around 40,000 miles, most drivers will have to replace their tires every two years or so.

These are loose averages, but the trend is obvious. We have a lot of tire waste that needs to be dealt with. A large percentage of old tires are burned for their fuel value, for their use on basketball courts, shoe products, etc. As for the rest of the old tires, mot will find their way to a landfill. Tires are very durable and they usually contain a number of components that, when broken down, could pose an issue for the environment. Tires also take up a lot of space in landfills because they have roughly 75% void space.

How Can Tire Manufacturers Help?

Some tire manufacturers are attempting to tackle this problem at the point of creation. For example, Goodyear has started to use rice husk waste in the construction of their tires. The Akron based tire maker uses the ash left over from the burning of rice husks to produce electricity as an environmentally friendly source of silica for use in their tires. Tested for over two years at the company's Innovation Center in Akron, it has been proven that this new environmentally friendly method is equally as effective as traditional sources.  

With 700 million tons of rice being harvested globally every year, disposing of all the waste has proven to be yet another environmental challenge. Goodyear has found a way to use one form of waste to partially prevent the creation of another. The company is now looking to suppliers to produce rice husk ash silica for mass purchase.

Goodyear is not alone in the fight to protect our environment. Michelin uses Green-X Technology in their Michelin Energy Saver tires, which promises a level of energy efficiency that is among the highest in the tire market. The technology helps to reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining all of the dependable advantages of driving on Michelin tires.

The Yokohama Tire Company produces their Avid Ascend tires using Orange Oil Technology which uses oil extracted from orange peels to improve the molecular bond between natural and synthetic rubber. This helps to enhance the tread life, fuel efficiency, and all-season traction of the tire, in addition to making the tire healthier for the environment.

With major brand name tire companies taking the lead on greener innovations, will more manufacturers follow suit? If we make the educated choice to purchase these environmentally friendly tires they'll have little choice.