The Finnish tire major, Nokian Tyres has developed its most sustainable tire yet: The innovative new Green Step concept tire is produced with 93 percent of the materials that are either recycled or renewable. The unveiling of the Green Step tire is line with the company’s goal for the year 2030: ensuring that 50 percent of all raw materials used in its tires will be recycled or renewable.

All rubber used in the Green Step concept tire is natural, and renewable oils such as canola oil, have been used. Almost all plasticizer, resin and processing aids are from renewable resources. Additionally, natural rice husk ash silica has been used as a main filler for the tread and sidewall, and renewable cord fiber is used to make the tire tougher.

“Drivers are more and more interested in the sustainability of their tires, and this creates demand for us to create tires for these standards,” noted Jouko Ilomäki, Development Manager at Nokian Tyres.” It also puts pressure on the industry to develop more eco-friendly materials, as well as for tire manufacturing technology to adapt to these materials. With a concept tire like the Green Step, we can push the limits. It’s a win-win for all, but especially for the environment.” He explained that Nokian Tyres learned new things with every innovation made for the concept tire, including the challenging process of replacing the synthetic rubber used in the making of the tire completely with natural rubber, which the company was able to achieve in the end.

Almost every component of the Green Step also includes some recycled materials. The carbon black used in the rubber compounds was derived from end-of-life tires (ELTs), while the butyl used in the inner surface as well as the steel in the steel belts and bead wires in the structure are mainly recycled.

Mr. Ilomäki stated that the company believes that using recycled rubber and especially recycled carbon black will be a future trend in tire manufacturing. By the year 2030, Nokian Tyres expects to have multiple new suppliers and more advanced technology and that the demand for raw materials with either recycled or renewed components will increase.

Appropriately enough for a tire produced by the world’s northern-most tire manufacturer, the Nokian Tyres Green Step is a winter tire and it is drivable on snow and ice. NR is a key material used in all tires due to its beneficial features. The company said it is also researching alternative sources for NR, such as the guayule plant. Renewable oils are common in the company’s tires, as Nokian Tyres was the first tire manufacturer in the world in 2005 to stop using high-aromatic oils.

“Even though the process of designing the Nokian Tyres Green Step started about a year ago, it is actually a result of decades of innovation and accumulated expertise on sustainable tire design,” explained Teemu Soini, Senior Manager, Materials Development from Nokian Tyres. “Many of the sustainable innovations found in the Green Step are already used in our tires, and regular drivers have been able to benefit from them for years. We made new innovations during the process of designing the Green Step and they will be incorporated in the future tires offered to consumers all around the globe.”