Protyre News

We all want to make a positive contribution to the environment, right? Reduce our carbon footprint, consume less, preserve more, or the really hot topic of the moment – use less plastic!

The same is true of the tyre industry, with the need to create a more sustainable tyre well underway. A more environmentally friendly tyre, from an alternative sustainably managed resource to natural rubber, is the goal.

At Protyre we take the sustainability of the tyres we offer our customers very seriously. So do premium tyre manufacturer, Continental. They’re focused on resource conservation and fuel economy (including the reduction of CO2 emissions), without compromising safety and performance levels, in their quest to create the Tyre of the Future.

Resource conservation, hand in hand with developing alternative materials

Continental have recruited many of the world’s leading experts (from a wide background of fields and specialisations) to focus on the research and development and manufacturing processes necessary to create a greener tyre.

One such expert is Dr. Fred Waldner. He and his team specialise in the mixing and testing of alternative rubber compounds, in an attempt to get away from the traditional natural rubber harvested from man-made rubber tree plantations. The results have been interesting, to say the least.

“Every year, several thousand samples are produced here, drawing on more than 1,500 different materials.”
“You can’t replace all of the natural rubber in a tyre with synthetic rubber. The technical advantages and unique properties of the natural product are simply too important. Apply heat to natural rubber and it can be shaped; when it cools down it remains elastic, can be stretched, and will then return to its original shape. The rubber made from this natural product can be elastic or energy absorbing, depending on the composition of the material.”

One such alternative has caught the eye, with the potential to go from the laboratory to the real world: dandelion latex. Developed in conjunction with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), dandelion rubber shows incredible promise. It has the potential to be a commercially viable alternative for making tyres with. It’s still early days, but when this initiative was originally announced in 2014, it won the prestiges Greentec Award.

Dandelion rubber – really?!

As we’re all to aware, there has been severe stress placed on the natural environment, often resulting in the destruction of irriplaceable habitats. It is to be hoped that initiatives like Continental’s dandelion rubber will significantly reduce the tyre industry’s reliance on rubber tree plantations.
If so, any global deforestation that’s attributable to the need to grow rubber could come to an end. How so? Because it’s possible we could see traditional, tropical rubber tree plantations replaced by sustainable fields of dandelion – all located beside tyre making facilities, rather than on the other side of the world... and that has significant implications for the transportation of raw materials, too.

Making the future come true

Here’s how it’s intended to work. Natural latex can be obtained from dandelion roots. The aim is to grow enough of it so that it becomes a commercially viable alternative to the natural latex currently sourced from rainforest plantations. The brilliant thing is that the dandelion can be grown on land not suitable for food crops, and in less temperate weather. This means that land utilised for industrial developments – including for tyre manufacturing – can now become ‘plantations beside the tyre plants’.

This makes sound economic and ecological sense for tyre manufacturing plants in Central Europe. Sustainability is improved thanks to a dramatic reduction in transportation distances between material harvesting and processing. As a result, a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions can also be achieved. And if the switch to dandelions can become a reality, there may no longer be the need to impliment monocultures – like rubber trees – in the rainforest regions – and that means less destruction of these precious habitats.

We all have a part to play in achieving sustainable tyres

While it’s important that premium tyre manufacturers, like Continental, continue driving the need to create a more sustainable tyre, it’s also the case that we all have a role to play. As a driver, you too have a chance to make a difference. We can all contribute to the many challenges facing the environment, including by recycling your old car tyres.

The recycling process itself is actually quite difficult, because tyres consist of varying amounts of steel, rubber and textile, and these need to be granulated so that the various materials can be successfully retrieved. Once granulation is complete, the materials are shredded into ‘rubber crumb’. This core material is ideal for many good uses, such as for creating rubberised asphalt road surfaces. It can also be used for making sports surfaces, pitches and running tracks (including for equestrian usage), and children’s playground safety mats. It doesn’t end there, with the recycled material also being used for the construction of carpet underlay, drainage systems, and roof tiles.

So how do I go about recycling my old tyres?

Simply go online, and search “tyre collection and recycling service”. You should be presented with a selection of tyre recycling specialists in your region. Alternatively, if you choose to purchase your new replacement tyres from Protyre, we will recycle your old tyres for you. It’s that easy.

Tyres with low rolling resistance help to reduce fuel consumption

Premium tyre manufacturers, like Continental, offer a range of tyres that generate low rolling resistance. Fitting these tyres typically leads to a reduction in fuel consumption, as well as lower CO2 emissions. They save you money too! It’s just one more way that Continental are contributing to the sustainability of tyres, and that UK motorists can do so too. Their highly regarded ContiEcoContact™ 5 provides drivers with optimised rolling resistance, without compromising on braking quality in wet weather conditions. This excellent tyre scores well for both fuel efficiency and wet weather braking on the EU Tyre Label.

Protyre – your local tyre experts

Want to know more about the sustainability of tyres, and tyres with low rolling resistance? You can benefit from our expert knowledge. Our dedicated tyre professionals can provide you with experienced, impartial advice, as well as the right tyre fitting solution for your car.