TOKYO — Toyo Tire Corp. unveiled a concept tire made of 90% sustainable materials at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 that the company called a steppingstone to "more viable future mobility."
Toyo's goal is to achieve a sustainable materials usage rate of 40% in 2030 and 100% in 2050.
Along with its sustainable materials, the tire also achieves a "AAA" rating — the highest — for rolling resistance from the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association.
"This tire minimizes the rolling resistance coefficient, which greatly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the tire lifecycle and improving the cruising range of EVs," the company said.
"In the future, Toyo Tires will advance further technological innovations toward practical application, developing and marketing products that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable mobility society," the company said.
Renewable materials — such as biomass-derived butadiene and styrene-butadiene rubbers, rice-husk silica, plant-derived oil and bio-derived polyester fiber — make up 60% of the tire.
The other 30% comes from recycled materials like CO2-derived butadiene rubber, recovered carbon black, bead wire and steel cord.
Toyo is using an Open County tire made from 50% sustainable materials in the 2024 Dakar Rally — a ultra-rugged off-road race across Saudi Arabia that runs until Jan. 19.
