Bridgestone Shows Sustainable Tire Made From Plant Material in Paris

Japanese tire company Bridgestone showed several concepts for future tires at the Paris Motor Show. Among the concepts were a sustainable tire that was made from reinforced plant materials and a new high fuel efficiency tire with high wet weather grip. 

The sustainable tire is made from reinforced plant fibers. The synthetic rubber, carbon and compound agents are made from biomass. Biomass is any renewable material made from wood, garbage, landfill gases or bioethanol.

Unfortunately, while the material and technology to make the tires is available now. It is not yet affordable. Bridgestone predicts that the tires will not be on sale to the mass market until 2050. 

In the much nearer term, Bridgestone will introduce a new Ecopia EP100S "AA"-rated tire next year. It will be the company's first tire than combines low rolling resistance and wet weather grip. The tire has received “A” ratings in both categories on the EU and Japanese grading scales, hence the name. 

In the past low rolling resistance tires have meant a compromise in favor of efficiency over grip and braking performance.