AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear has replaced some of the petroleum-based materials used to make its Metro Miler city transit tires with a bio-based soybean oil compound.
The move is a first in Goodyear's production of commercial tires and "an important step in its global journey to fully replace petroleum-derived oils by 2040," the company said.
"The use of soybean oil in the majority of the Metro Miler G152 and G652 tires in production today is a significant Goodyear innovation that reduces the amount of petroleum-based materials needed for production," said Dustin Lancy, commercial product marketing manager, Goodyear North America.
"In these tires, soybean oil replaces about 11 liquid ounces of free-flowing petroleum oil per tire — almost as much as a traditional soda can. Multiply that by a bus fleet of 1,600 buses, about the size used by some major metropolitan cities in the U.S., and that could mean the use of around 20 fewer barrels of oil."
The compound is made using soybean oil left over from food applications in the marketplace. It's use in tires "underscores Goodyear's commitment to using more sustainable bio-based raw materials while continuing to deliver quality and performance in its products," the company said.
The new Metro Miler tires feature technology designed to resist sidewall damage, enhanced toughness and provide long tread life, including reinforced shoulders and steel sidewalls and integrated sidewall wear indicators.
The tires also have a multi-compound, scrub resistant tread designed to handle the rigors of transit applications and extend tread life by being resistant to excessive wear, chunking, cracking and chipping.
The Metro Miler G152 and G652 models made with soybean oil are in production and available to order.
In April, Goodyear announced it was partnering with the Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force and other entities to bring dandelion-sourced domestic natural rubberstock to market.
