In the future,  up to 95% of the Goodyear Hanau plant’s heat requirements for production will be covered by the new biomass heating plant. In addition, around 15% of the renewable heat generated, around 15,000 MWh, will be supplied to Stadtwerke Hanau to supply the city with heat. The plant is expected to have a capacity of 16 MWh and deliver up to 24 tons of process steam per hour. By switching from gas to biomass, the tire plant’s CO₂ emissions at the Hanau site are expected to be reduced by up to 95% per year. Commercial operation of the biomass heating plant is planned for mid-2028.

The project is supported by funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and underlines GETEC's pioneering role in the field of renewable energy projects.

Thomas Stephanblome, CEO of the GETEC Platform Germany

"This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to developing tailor-made and highly efficient energy solutions that are not only more sustainable, but also economical. We are proud to make a positive contribution to the environment and to the achievement of the climate goals of the city of Hanau together with Goodyear and Stadtwerke Hanau."

Katrin Rost,  Managing Director of Goodyear Germany GmbH

"The conversion of our plant in Hanau to biomass is a significant step towards our goal of fully converting manufacturing operations to renewable energy by 2040. It is in line with our corporate responsibility framework, Better Future, by consistently implementing our commitment to utilize renewable energy solutions. The combination with district heating supply illustrates the potential of close collaboration between industry and local energy suppliers to achieve common climate targets.”

Claus Kaminsky, Mayor of the City of Hanau

"We see this as a commendable example of how both an established regional company and our municipal, sustainability-focused municipal utility continue to drive the climate transition locally together with a competent project partner. This new cooperation also contributes directly to the ultimate goal of our Hanau climate protection concept, namely to lead Hanau to climate neutrality by 2040.

In recent months and years, our municipal utilities in particular have achieved great things in this respect: from their expertise and cooperation in municipal heat planning to Hanau's new 'Energy Innovation Center' in Großauheim, where a state-of-the-art combined heat and power plant, Hanau's first solar park and the substation of the municipal utilities subsidiary Hanau Netz were built. One innovative building block after another, which come together to form a sophisticated and innovative overall energy concept."

Martina Butz, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Hanau

“As early as this summer, we will supply our customers with renewable district heating from our own combined heat and power plant on the site of the former Großauheim barracks. In the future, we envisage the use of hydrogen and industrial waste heat, for example from the data center being built in the immediate vicinity. Now another component is being added: With the signing of the heat supply contract, we are laying the foundation for an even greener energy mix for our district heating. With the commissioning of the new biomass heating plant in 2028, we plan to combine it with our combined heat and power plant and a large heat pump for waste heat recovery. This enables an even more economical and efficient heat supply, as the biomass heating plant will increasingly replace the use of gas-fired boilers. In purely mathematical terms, we will thus supply almost 1,000 households with renewable heat from biomass."

Caption: 

From left to right: Dirk Krieger, Managing Director at Goodyear Germany; Katrin Rost, Managing Director at Goodyear Germany; Martina Butz, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Hanau; Claus Kaminsky, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanau; Thomas Stephanblome, CEO of the GETEC Platform Germany; Hajo Hoops, Head of Industry Segment at the GETEC Platform Germany

Picture copyright: Moritz Göbel

The facility, which was completed in December 2023, was inaugurated today at the Goodyear proving ground, in the presence of Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism.

With a total surface area of 37,700 m2 , this solar project boasts a capacity of 4.4 MWp and is made up of 8,148 bifacial panels, capturing light both on the illuminated surface of the panel and on the lower surface thanks to diffuse light. 

This extraordinary project was carried out in close collaboration between the Goodyear, Enovos and Paul Wagner et Fils teams, in order to meet both technical and safety requirements, enabling the site to run smoothly alongside daily tire tests on the track. 

It now complements the two installations already in place at Goodyear's Colmar-Berg site, including the photovoltaic carport with almost 1,500 solar panels on the proving ground parking lot and the power plant on the roof of the Mold Plant. Together, with an annual production of 6.2 GWh of electricity, they will contribute to reducing carbon emissions by more than 50,000 tons over the next 20 years, while providing clean energy to 1,700 households every year. 

"Since the inauguration of the photovoltaic carport on the parking lot of the same proving ground in 2021, Goodyear has further strengthened its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions, in line with its global ''Better Future'' strategy and climate ambition," said Romain Hansen, Vice President Product Development for Goodyear in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We are also proud, as one of the country's leading industrial players, to support the Luxembourg government in its goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energies." 

Anouk Hilger, Head of Renewable Energies, Enovos added: “This major installation completes our portfolio of major solar projects already completed in Luxembourg. It is a model in terms of sustainable development, as we have taken great care to preserve the site and its specific species. This project puts into action our deep commitment to the environment and the energy transition. It also shows that collaboration between experts, industries and governments is essential to catalyze and accelerate the energy transition to a sustainable future.”

“I congratulate Goodyear and Enovos on completing this large-scale photovoltaic project, which will generate renewable electricity for 4,800 residents. Thanks to solar energy, Luxembourg is well on the way to achieving its climate objectives; as Minister for the Economy, I am particularly delighted to see that companies based in Luxembourg are actively contributing to this,” said Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism.

Building on past successes

Since 2017, LIST and Goodyear have worked together to achieve pioneering results in materials research, structure-property relationship understanding, and data science. Their joint efforts have positioned Luxembourg as a hub for disruptive innovation in mobility, particularly in the tire and tire-related technology sectors. 

At last year’s LIST Tech Day, the two entities had sealed the agreement for a second phase of their partnership capitalizing on Goodyear’s and LIST's expertise, infrastructure, and competencies to drive innovation and technology to a new application domain.

Focus on sustainability and digitalization 

The new contract encompasses strategic programmes comprising more than 30 projects. Spanning six years, this new contract places significant emphasis on advancing efforts focused on sustainability and digitalization within the tire industry. In terms of sustainability, the focus will be on tire products developed with bio-based and recyclable materials. As for digitalization, the spotlights will be on data science and its application for accelerating sensor prototyping timeline and efficacy. The partnership will also focus on the development of sensors capable of real-time monitoring of tire wear, aimed at enhancing safety and facilitating maintenance procedures. Additionally, efforts will be dedicated to research and development in energy harvesting and storage for wireless sensors, ensuring their durability and efficiency over time. 

Supported by the Ministry of Economy and the Industrial Partnership Block Grants (IPBG) initiative of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), this second phase of the partnership is expected to kick off by the end of April.

Strategic research programmes 

Data Science for Tire Applications - At the forefront of the digital transition, this programme aims to fit within Goodyear’s “first time right” development objective. Data Program will help Goodyear engineers develop, test and validate tire models early in the development cycle, with the goal of identifying the best performing tires before building a first prototype. 

• Tire Sensor Technology - This programme will help develop materials-based sensing technology to aid Goodyear in embedding sensors for continuous tire monitoring.
• End-of-Life Tires – This programme targets the exploration and potential development of new materials and processing technology to help improve the reuse of end-of-life tires
• Sustainable Materials - Material development programmes are designed to investigate new raw materials that could be used in all kinds of tire architectures
• Structure-Process-Property Relationships - This programme will deliver new tools to better understand complex correlations of characterization results and material performance.

Additionally, LIST and Goodyear have already identified several potential fields of interest for future collaboration.

Damien Lenoble, Director of the materials department at LIST: “The ongoing and strengthened strategic collaboration with a global and multinational company such as Goodyear is a testament to the high quality of research conducted here at LIST. We are honoured and pleased that Goodyear expanded our trusted partnership. Together, we are dedicated to developing tires that are not only better performing and smarter but also more sustainable for both users and the planet. I wish to congratulate all the teams at Goodyear and LIST who have diligently nurtured and developed this research and innovation programme over the past year and beyond.”

Romain Hansen, Vice President, EMEA Product Development at Goodyear: “I am thrilled to see this second phase of the partnership come to life. Working with influential organizations like LIST is essential to Goodyear achieving its commitment to enable mobility today and tomorrow.”

“Sustainability is a key component of our business strategy and an integral part of our culture,” said Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Kramer. “In 2022, the work of our associates around the world further demonstrated our commitment to ethical and sustainable processes, materials and programs. Our latest corporate responsibility report shares where we are along our journey—our goal progress, our challenges, our strategies, including our decarbonization roadmap, and what lies ahead—and how we are working with our customers and other stakeholders to help build a better future.”

Goodyear’s 2022 report is organized around the four pillars of the company’s corporate responsibility framework, Goodyear Better Future: Sustainable Sourcing, Responsible Operations, Advanced Mobility and Inspiring Culture. Some of the report’s highlights are described below.

Sustainable Sourcing: Goodyear scientists and engineers continued to make significant progress toward the company’s 2030 goal of introducing a 100% sustainable-material tire with the development of a demonstration tire made of 90% sustainable materials*. This demonstration tire has 17 featured ingredients, including four different carbon blacks produced from bio-methane, carbon dioxide, end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil feedstocks and plant-based oil; soybean oil; rice husk ash silica; and bio-renewable pine tree resins.

Responsible Operations: Goodyear continued its work to reduce its environmental impact. In 2022, the company increased its utilization of renewable electricity to 34% across its global manufacturing operations, up from 3% in 2019.

Advanced Mobility: In 2022, Goodyear continued its focus on improving fuel efficiency by achieving a 32.9% reduction in rolling resistance and a 9.4% reduction in tire weight in its global consumer tire portfolio, from a 2005 baseline.

Inspiring Culture: In 2022, associate membership in Goodyear’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) grew by 6%. It was also a milestone year for one of the company’s ERGs with the Akron-based Goodyear Women’s Network (GWN) celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2022.

Goodyear’s 2022 report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. 

The 2022 Goodyear Corporate Responsibility Report can be found on the Goodyear Corporate Responsibility website.

*A sustainable material is defined as a bio-based/renewable, recycled material or one that may be produced using or contributing to other sustainable practices for resource conservation and/or emissions reductions including mass-balance materials.

This demonstration tire also tested to have lower rolling resistance when compared to the reference tire, made with traditional materials. Lower rolling resistance means this demonstration tire has the potential to offer better fuel savings and carbon footprint reduction. 

In addition, after announcing the capability to demonstrate a 70% sustainable-material tire in January 2022, Goodyear, working with its supply base, plans to sell a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content in 2023. Consumers interested in purchasing this tire can register for updates at Goodyear.com/SustainableMaterialTire.   

Bringing a 90% sustainable-material tire to market will require further collaboration with the company’s supply base to identify the scale necessary for these innovative materials to produce that specific tire at high volumes. 

“We continue to make progress toward our goal of introducing the first 100% sustainable-material tire in the industry by 2030,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer. “The past year was a pivotal one toward achieving this goal. We researched new technologies, identified opportunities for further collaboration and utilized our team’s tenacity to not only demonstrate our capabilities to produce a 90% sustainable-material tire, but to also produce a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content this year. Our team continues to showcase its innovation and commitment to building a better future.” 

90% Sustainable-material Demonstration Tire - 17 Ingredients Across 12 Different Tire Components 
 

This 90% sustainable-material demonstration tire includes 17 featured ingredients across 12 different components, including: 

• Carbon black, which is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their life, has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products. Goodyear’s 90% sustainable-material demonstration tire features four different types of carbon black that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, plant-based oil and end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil feedstocks. These carbon black technologies target reduced carbon emissions, circularity and the use of bio-based carbons, while still delivering on performance.  
   
• The use of soybean oil in this demonstration tire helps keep the tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that helps to reduce Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100% of soy protein is used in food/animal feed applications, a significant surplus of oil is left over and available for use in industrial applications. 
   
• Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. This demonstration tire includes a high-quality silica produced from rice husk waste residue (RHA silica), a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills.  
   
• Polyester is recycled from post-consumer bottles by reverting the polyester into base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester used in tire cords. 
   
• Resins are used to help improve and enhance tire traction performance. In this demonstration tire, traditional petroleum-based resins are replaced with bio-renewable pine tree resins.  
   
• Bead wire and steel cords provide reinforcement in the structure of a radial tire. This demonstration tire uses bead wire and steel cord from steel with high-recycled content, which is produced using the electric arc furnace (EAF) process. The utilization of the EAF process allows for steel to be produced with reduced energy use and higher recycled content. The EAF process has the potential for lower greenhouse gas emissions in comparison with steel produced using a blast furnace.  
   
• ISCC certified mass balance polymers from bio- and bio-circular feedstock are also included in this tire. 

The shift to sustainable materials is evident in some of Goodyear’s current product lines. Today, eight product lines, and some racing tires, include soybean oil. In addition, Goodyear has more than doubled its use of RHA silica in its product lines since 2018. With the introduction of a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content, Goodyear is demonstrating tangible commitment with in-market solutions to building a better future.                                                                                                     

*A sustainable material is defined as a bio-based/renewable, recycled material or one that may be produced using or contributing to other sustainable practices for resource conservation and/or emissions reductions including mass-balance materials.  
**The 90% sustainable-material tire has been developed as a demonstration tire, which means Goodyear has proven its ability to produce a consumer tire with a high-level of sustainable-material content.  

• Fleets report a significant rise in clearly defined sustainability objectives and measures. 
• Knowledge of environmental legislation continues to rise. 
• Tires continue to play a key role in lowering fleet carbon emissions. 

An overwhelming majority of responses highlighted the importance of sustainability for their businesses, with larger fleets more likely to report implementing strategies and measures to reduce their CO2 emissions and waste material. The survey recorded a 28% increase in fleets saying that sustainability measures are not only good for environmental efforts, but also a driver of bottom-line profitability. The survey results indicate that the industry is positioned as knowledgeable and prepared to make steps forward to boost efficiency. 

Tires continue to play a key role in achieving sustainability targets 

Across the fleets that participated in the survey, 54% said that fuel-efficient tires are part of their solution, second only to deploying more efficient vehicles, therefore, they see tires as the most important transferable component. Rolling resistance plays an important role in a vehicle’s overall efficiency. In the past fleet operators had been forced to choose between durability, grip, fuel efficiency and mileage, but the latest Goodyear technologies eliminate such compromises. For example, equipping a fleet with Goodyear’s FUELMAX ENDURANCE range can result in a 2% reduction in CO2, which equates to saving 40,000 litres of fuel per year for a 100-vehicle fleet.¹ 

Maciej Szymanski, Marketing Director Commercial Europe, Goodyear, said: “Fuel efficient tires are a significant cost saver for fleets. The Goodyear FUELMAX ENDURANCE range provides high fuel efficiency with enhanced mileage and traction. It is a perfect choice for fleets that are focused on fuel-saving but demand versatility and robustness for regional use. As we endure this period of high energy prices, it’s no surprise that fleets are continuing to practise greater attention to detail when it comes to tires and other material differences that can really help boost fleet efficiency.” 

Knowledge of regional legislation stronger year-on-year 

Knowledge of environmental legislation within countries has improved since the 2021 survey. 89% of fleets said they were familiar with legislation that applies to their local transport market, meaning fleets are in a much stronger strategic position to make decisions based on government law. It also suggests that fleets are actively in tune with their respective countries’ efforts to improve sustainability. 

Cost and complexity barriers remain for many operators 

Although the overall picture is positive, there remain several key barriers to implementing sustainable solutions. For smaller fleets, in particular, the survey found that the upfront cost currently doesn’t justify the future return on investment, with 59% of fleets identifying cost as the most significant barrier to some solutions. This is supported by 74% of responses mentioning financial incentives as the most impactful encouragement to improve sustainability, confirming that fleets are feeling the impact of the current economic environment. Meanwhile, the complexities associated with installing tools that help measure and reduce environmental impact remain out of reach for many small and medium-sized fleets. 

The answer to the challenges highlighted in the survey is Goodyear Total Mobility, an integrated fleet management offering which brings together truck tires, solutions and services that support the same goal: reducing downtime and improving efficiency, helping reduce fuel costs and meet CO2 emissions targets. 

Szymanski commented: “What the survey results tell us is that the industry is on the right path to a sustainable future. The majority of fleets continue to increase their efforts, particularly those with the largest impact. Since last year’s survey, the economic landscape has changed significantly, so we can be even more encouraged by the effort of fleets during this time, particularly as the conversation shifts from a purely environmental issue to one of keeping pace with the industry and bottom-line profitability.” 

1 Based on VECTO calculation, difference between C-EU Tire label and B-EU tire label for fuel efficiency. Switching from a C-label to a fuel-efficient B- label tire represents a reduction of 2% in CO2 reduction. This translates into a saving of about 1 tonne CO2 emissions and 400L of fuel per truck, per year. 

Last weekend, Goodyear continued its partnership with DAF to supply tyres for the coveted DAF Driver Challenge 2022. The competition, which is held annually and spans across Europe to find the most skilful truck drivers, took place at Goodyear’s proving ground in Luxembourg on 1st and 2nd October. Over 1000 contestants from 18 countries took part in regional trials, with 15 drivers invited to compete in the finals. 

Goodyear was the exclusive supplier and partner of the event, which saw Gábor Szabados from Hungary eventually crowned the winner. On their way to being named Europe’s most skilful truck driver, they faced various challenges ranging from coupling a trailer and reversing to eco-driving and daily checks such as tyre health monitoring.

Goodyear’s proving ground hosted the two-day event, which today is used for testing passenger and truck tyres to deliver the highest levels of performance and efficiency. Finalists participated in seven different technical and handling workshops on the Goodyear track, getting a feel of the types of tests tyres are subject to while in development. 

Maciej Szymański, Director of Marketing for Commercial Business Europe at Goodyear commented: “It is an honour for Goodyear to partner with such a prestigious competition which aligns with our values of always striving to deliver the best results. We are particularly proud of our partnership with DAF, which is committed to increasing its sustainability initiatives without compromising performance. On behalf of Goodyear, I would like to congratulate every driver who took part in the DAF Driver Challenge 2022 and Gábor Szabados for being named “DAF Driver Challenge Champion 2022”.

Using a range of sustainable materials in the tire tread compound, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has developed the Eagle GO concept tire, which will be fitted to Citroën’s new concept car, oli. 

For more than 120 years, Goodyear has pursued sustainable, low-maintenance innovations and inventions and partnering with Citroën continues a long-standing relationship between both brands. The Eagle GO is the third Goodyear concept tire developed with Citroën and has been created to optimise efficiency, durability and comfort.  

Sustainable-material tread compound 

This concept tire uses a compound in the tread, the part of the tire that wears, made of nearly all sustainable or recycled materials. These materials include sunflower oils, pine tree resins, natural rubber and rice husk ash silica. These materials are described below. 

•  Sunflower oils and pine tree resins are renewable solutions to replace petroleum-derived oils. These materials are currently being used to make ‘Vegetable Ink’ for printers. Goodyear’s goal is to fully replace petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040. 
• Natural rubber from the Hevea brasiliensis tree is used to replace synthetic petroleum-based rubber, using responsible farming and cultivation methods¹. 
• Rice husk ash silica from rice processing can reduce waste going to landfills and has previously been used in reinforced concrete. 

Renewable tread 

The Eagle GO concept tire has the potential to be renewed twice across its lifetime, which increases the lifespan of the tire. Goodyear has set an objective for the Eagle GO concept tire to achieve up to 500,000km through the reuse of the sustainable carcass and renewable tread.   

Intelligent technology 

The Eagle GO concept tire uses Goodyear SightLine technology, which includes a sensor that monitors a variety of tire health parameters. This technology is already being applied to help Goodyear fleet customers and could significantly reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus increasing circularity and efficiency. Adding this technology to the Eagle GO concept tire is in line with Goodyear’s goal to reinvent tires and service, delivering data-and-sensor-enabled intelligence in all new products by 2027.  

 “Tire architecture has come a long way by incorporating sustainable materials and smart technologies,“ explained Laurent Colantonio, Regional Technology Director Consumer EMEA.  “With Citroën, we have a relationship that provides a great testbed for developing and testing new technologies and techniques.   

“Concept tires are a fantastic way for Goodyear to research and develop ground-breaking technologies that can make its way into our products. The learnings from this project will go towards our future as a mobility enabler that consistently innovates its products and services.” 

^[1] In line with Goodyear’s Natural Rubber Procurement Policy 

The return of Bauma, the world’s leading trade fair for construction and mining equipment, provides Goodyear with an opportunity to demonstrate the role tyres and tyre management solutions play in helping the industry achieve efficiency and sustainability targets.  

Goodyear will have a prominent stand at the global show, taking place in Munich from 24–30 October. The 72m², two-story Goodyear stand will showcase a combination of Goodyear’s latest tyre and solutions technologies which, when combined, can help operators drive efficiency across their fleets. 

Trusted Products - simplifying choice to boost efficiency

The Goodyear GP-3E for wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and graders will make its European exhibition debut at Bauma 2022. After listening to customer feedback on the challenges of high costs and the importance of driver comfort levels, the GP-3E features an innovative lightweight tyre design. The key benefits are an optimised cost per hour supporting sustainability goals as well as low vibration levels supporting a high level of comfort for the driver. This versatile product is suitable for a variety of applications with well-balanced traction and flotation levels.

Another new tyre on show is the Goodyear Powerload®. Designed for compact wheel loaders and graders, Powerload is the compact tyre that likes it tough. Smooth Guard Technology™, an extra thick and smooth rubber layer protection in the shoulder area and sidewall, improves cut resistance. The advanced, self-cleaning tread design provides superb forward and lateral traction for continued operation in tough conditions.   

Both GP-3E and Powerload are Electric Drive Ready. This means they can be used on electric and hybrid powertrains, as well as conventional diesel machines. 

Tyre Management Solutions - driving operational excellence

Goodyear has long led developments in Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) technology.  At Bauma, Goodyear will showcase its enhanced ‘TPMS Heavy Duty’ which communicates through the Goodyear FleetHub (mobile + web app) or Goodyear DriverHub (mobile app), giving drivers and fleet managers predictive and prescriptive information to allow proactive and preventive maintenance of their fleets.

Octavian Velcan, Managing Director Goodyear Off-The-Road EMEA for Goodyear: “Bauma is the perfect platform for Goodyear to demonstrate how combining tyres and tyre management solutions together with reliable services can drive safety and reduce costs. Our latest tyre innovations and fully integrated TPMS support optimised uptime and efficiencies for our customers. We are looking forward to productive discussions on how we can help operators flourish during a very competitive period for the industry.”  

The Goodyear stand will be located in Hall A6, stand 224.

Goodyear has a long history of winning at Le Mans, with 14 overall victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, arguably the world’s most prestigious car race, dating back to 1965. In the world of truck racing, the spirit of the ‘24 Heures’ lives on with the Goodyear FIA ETRC round on 24-25 September. Over the Saturday and Sunday, Goodyear FIA ETRC teams will contest four races of 11 laps each, racing flat out on the Le Mans Bugatti circuit. In the race for the championship, Norbert Kiss could be crowned Goodyear FIA ETRC champion for a fourth time this weekend.

As the title partner to the pinnacle of European truck racing, Goodyear supplies tyres and support to every team on the grid, but the partnership goes much further than that. Goodyear, the FIA, and championship organiser ETRA work together to further their respective sustainability goals, making Goodyear FIA ETRC a true showcase for a responsible future of transportation. 

Goodyear uses technology derived from racing, such as stronger carcass technology, in the development of its products for the road. The pursuit of ultimate durability and versality on the track helps teams to shave valuable seconds off their lap time and fight for the victory, and this same approach is true of fleet operators across Europe who demand reliable performance and support. Racing is the most extreme arena for Goodyear to continue developing this technology and approach. 

Furthermore, Goodyear has also now introduced retreading into the lifecycle of racing tyres used in Goodyear FIA ETRC. This means that tyres used in the Goodyear FIA ETRC are retreaded into standard on road Goodyear tyres that can be used by transportation fleets.

The championship is paving the way in other areas, too. In 2020, FIA ETRC identified sustainability as one of its three strategic pillars, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038. A year later, it became the first FIA-regulated championship to switch to 100 percent sustainable fuel. Its use of biodiesel cements its role as being a role model for the road haulage industry as a whole.

During the Le Mans race weekend, Goodyear will showcase its Drive Results Tour truck that has been touring Europe and visiting Goodyear FIA ETRC races throughout the summer. The Drive Results Tour showcases Goodyear’s Total Mobility value proposition that provides European fleets with an end-to-end solution that helps them to improve their efficiency and competitiveness while cutting their environmental impact. When visiting the roadshow truck at events like Le Mans, visitors can receive a tailored experience that guides them through steps they can take to improve their own fleet. 

Maciej Szymanski, Marketing Director Commercial Europe, Goodyear: “Goodyear FIA ETRC is the pinnacle of European truck racing and Goodyear is proud to work with the FIA and ETRA to use it as a platform for showing what the future of the industry can look like. We develop technologies on the racetrack that go into road applications, while also using forward-thinking approaches to make Goodyear FIA ETRC a true role model for responsible transportation.”

The 63% sustainable-material demonstration truck tire includes 15 featured ingredients across 20 tire components, including those described below. This demonstration tire is labelled “A” in fuel efficiency meaning it can offer the same fuel saving as the most efficient Goodyear truck tires currently offered. 

• Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their tread life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum or coal tar-based products. This demonstration tire features four different carbon blacks that are produced from plant-based oil, end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil, carbon dioxide capture and conversion and a low-carbon methane pyrolysis process.
• Some of the petroleum-based oils in this demonstration tire were replaced by the use of rapeseed oil. Rapeseed oil is a bio-based resource that helps keep a tire's rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. The use of bio-based rapeseed oil is in line with the company's goal of fully replacing petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040.
• Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. This demonstration tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.
• Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords, which enables better retreadability.

In the future, this demonstration tire can be connected and monitor a variety of tire health parameters. This has the potential to reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus potentially contributing to circularity and increasing efficiency. 

This demonstration truck tire is in line with the company's commitment to increase the use of sustainable materials. Additionally, a tire made of sustainable materials, providing low rolling resistance and being fully retreadable, with the possibility of connecting to tire health monitoring with the Goodyear Total Mobility solution, has the potential to positively affect circularity and climate impact. Goodyear Total Mobility is an end-to-end fleet offering that brings together its full range of premium commercial truck tires, its suite of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics solutions, and more than 2,000 service locations across Europe. 

Grégory Boucharlat, Vice President Commercial Europe: “Development of our integrated offering of products and mobility solutions under the Goodyear Total Mobility umbrella can further support our customers in the demanding transport market and help them in achieving their own sustainability goals. Goodyear is committed to the development of products and solutions that help support the ambitions and aspirations of our business partners to be more competitive, more efficient and more sustainable.”

The direction of developing the Goodyear Total Mobility solution is consistent with the expectations and challenges faced by the transport industry in Europe. The recent Sustainable Reality Survey, conducted with the participation of over 1,400 representatives of the transport industry, confirms that achieving sustainable development goals is an important objective of the transport fleet business. Goodyear Total Mobility and the concept of creating a truck tire made from sustainable materials should support transport companies in achieving that objective in the coming years.

* The 63% sustainable-material truck tire presented at IAA Transportation has been produced as a demonstration tire. 

Manuel Vidal, FIA Truck Racing Commission President: "FIA’s approach is to have motorsport acting as a laboratory for sustainable mobility. In line with this, a couple of years ago the FIA Truck Racing Commission developed a sustainability roadmap that is now being implemented. The first milestone, the introduction of 100% renewable HVO biodiesel to the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, was reached last year. Today, we are delighted to welcome Goodyear joining our journey. The extreme constraints of truck racing mean that tyres are one of the key aspects of this discipline and their relevance to the road haulage industry proves that motorsport can serve a greater purpose.”

These efforts are brought together by the FIA under three key pillars: climate action, technology and innovation, and sustainable practices. After becoming carbon neutral in 2021, one of the major milestones within FIA’s environmental strategy is to reach net-zero carbon emissions in 2030.

Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship organiser ETRA has worked with its shareholder, the ADAC Mittelrhein and FIA to develop and implement plans to reduce its carbon footprint and promote green technologies. The sustainability strategic pillar is at the heart of the truck racing championship and all are committed to support meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Georg Fuchs, ETRA Managing Director: “In 2021, FIA ETRC became the first FIA-regulated championship to switch to 100 percent sustainable fuel, which supports the championship’s goal to become a leading platform for sustainable technologies in the road haulage industry. Goodyear and ETRA have been closely working together for a long time in driving results for the teams. We look forward to further intensify our efforts to contribute to the circular economy and the move towards sustainable transportation by extending the truck racing life beyond the races.”   

Maciej Szymanski, Marketing Director Commercial Europe, Goodyear: “We’re excited to work with the FIA and ETRA in taking the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship to the next level of sustainability this year. Therefore, we are now introducing Goodyear’s advanced retreading program within the Goodyear FIA ETRC. Testing in extreme racing conditions has contributed to the development of Goodyear’s advanced and robust carcass technology. Moving forward, we will further extend the service live of racing casings in hi-quality and select retreading programs for on-road applications. This is a good practice of Goodyear’s circular economic model without compromising on quality or performance. We look forward to increasingly link our sustainability efforts in the championship to how we support commercial vehicle fleets across the region.

For many years, Goodyear’s established retreading program for truck tyres is already implemented by leading European transportation companies supporting them to cut overall tyre bills by 10%¹ and extend tyre life by an additional 150%¹. As brand-new title sponsor and long-term exclusive tyre supplier, Goodyear is highly committed to leverage the FIA ETRC as a testing and innovation platform to continue paving the way for the commercial vehicle sector towards efficient circular economy practices and lowering emissions.

Sustainable racing and on-road innovation

The data retrieved in extreme racing conditions has already contributed to Goodyear setting the standards on durable and versatile low emission and rolling resistance tyres. As an example, the entire FUELMAX ENDURANCE range has an EU tyre B label for fuel efficiency, bringing the fuel efficiency known from highway operations to state roads.  

During demanding racing conditions, heat-generation and deformation are critical parameters. Equally in on road applications, lowering the heat generation in the tyre is key to increase fuel efficiency and decrease emissions. While limiting deformation will further contribute to extending the tyre service life with the learnings incorporated Goodyear’s innovative carcass technology. 

End to end carbon footprint reduction 

 

Goodyear Truck Racing tyres are produced by using renewable electricity sources like hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power. On a wider scale, Goodyear has adopted a number of company-wide initiatives both globally and specific to the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. Its overriding target is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. All Goodyear plants across Europe and Turkey already use 100 percent renewable energy, and this milestone will be reached by all facilities across the total EMEA region by the end of 2022. The company adopted a zero waste to landfill policy in 2006.

On the product side, Goodyear aims to develop a 100 percent sustainable material tire by 2030, and has already released a demonstration model using 70 percent sustainable material.

On the operations side, three-quarters of fleets identified carbon footprint reduction as an important issue in last year’s Goodyear Sustainable Reality Survey. Four out of five surveyed large fleets stated they will have sustainability KPIs in place by autumn this year. It is therefore clear that environmental concerns are key to the future of the industry.

As the official tyre supplier and title sponsor of the European truck racing series, Goodyear has an important role to play in supporting the championship’s extensive efforts to improve even further on the championship’s environmental credentials. The new Goodyear FIA ETRC will continue to be an important proving ground for taking the lead in the development of sustainable on road mobility solutions.

1 Based on internal analysis, comparing the use of a new Goodyear tyre versus a new Goodyear tyre that is regrooved, retreaded and regrooved a second time.

2 Based on internal data

The new facility is a first of its kind for Goodyear and it will provide opportunities to learn, test and mature technology as production capability continues to increase.  It features a new process focused on small-batch production of large rim diameter ultra-high performance (UHP) and ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) tires, which enables Goodyear to produce tires four times faster than a standard production cycle. This means that the company can respond to customer demands very quickly and efficiently.

Developed by Goodyear engineers, the process anticipates and responds to increasing complexity in the tire industry. The intensifying focus by original equipment manufacturers on large rim diameter tires, as well as a vast variety of vehicle models and options available to consumers, creates a growing need to efficiently develop and produce premium UUHP tires in small-batch quantities on-demand for replacement and original equipment customers.

“We needed to design this integrated product and process to deliver for the changing needs of the market. By doing so, we are enabling a new business model to serve our customers and consumers in this important and increasingly complex part of the market.” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and chief technology officer. “The new process will give us a competitive advantage, targeting world-class quality and responsiveness.”

The new technology requires new skills, and so far, Goodyear has hired 90 associates to support the facility and in the coming months will recruit 20 additional electromechanical technicians. Goodyear has also invested in training programs to enhance skills to enable current associates to perform new and innovative manufacturing processes.

The new facility is now operational, and the official opening ceremony is a key step along the journey to full capability.  The official opening ceremony took place in the presence of Luxembourg's Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc, Franz Fayot Minister of Economy and Dan Biancalana, Deputy-Mayor of Dudelange.

Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy of Luxembourg commented: "As the first important American company to settle in Luxembourg in 1951, Goodyear marked a new beginning in Luxembourg’s industrial history and its economic diversification. Since then, the relationship between Goodyear and Luxembourg has always been one of mutual support and trust. The company’s new manufacturing facility in Dudelange is confirming the assets of the Grand Duchy as a destination for high-tech industrial investment by international groups.”

Notes to Editors

What is the new Process?
The process allows Goodyear to produce tires four times faster than a standard production cycle via forming and hot application of components at the tire assembly machine. In different words, this is a version of 3-D printing for the tire industry.

The speed of production is thanks to new digital processes featuring highly automated, interconnected workstations using additive manufacturing technologies. 

The process drives efficiencies during the industrialization process of new products that will later go into mass production, thanks to the fully automated and high precision nature of the manufacturing process.

This, combined with new virtual capabilities that Goodyear is installing in its Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg Luxembourg, is a key step to further reduce product development cycle time aiming to reach Goodyear’s goal of being a preferred original equipment supplier, achieving first approval for all development products with only one physical iteration.

Find out the key outcomes of the 2021 Sustainable Reality Survey by Goodyear.  

Starship Technologies, a Goodyear Ventures portfolio company, builds and operates a network of over 1,000 last mile autonomous robots that carry and deliver packages, groceries and food directly to customers.

To address Starship’s request related to tire health and maintenance, Goodyear developed a specially engineered airless tire designed to extend tire life and reduce maintenance activities for Starship’s delivery fleet.

Goodyear and Starship have entered an in-field testing phase at Bowling Green State University to evaluate vehicle and tire dependencies. Early on-vehicle tire testing data has shown positive results with respect to treadwear, braking and vibration dampening.

“We are excited to extend our unique airless tire architectures into new forms of mobility,” said Michael Rachita, Goodyear’s senior program manager, non-pneumatic tires. “The micro delivery space presents a different set of needs as it relates to the tire, and our NPT technology is ideal to meet those needs to help enable a maintenance-free and long-lasting experience.”

“Our delivery robots make thousands of deliveries every day in all types of weather conditions and terrain,” said Siim Viilup, mechanical engineering manager, Starship Technologies. “To make sure we can keep up with the growing demand for our services, we need tires that are reliable and keep our robots on the move around the clock and around the globe. It’s great to see these new tires offering reliability as well as cost savings as we scale our business.”

“We set an ambitious goal in 2020 to create a tire made 100% from sustainable materials in 10 years, and our scientists and engineers have made great progress toward that goal,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. “This is an exciting achievement that demonstrates our commitment to increasing the use of sustainable materials in our tires.”

The 70% sustainable-material tire includes 13 featured ingredients across nine different tire components, including those described below. Company performance indicators have shown the component properties to deliver strong overall tire performance.

·         Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products. Goodyear’s new tire features three different carbon blacks that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, and plant-based oil. Initial life cycle assessments demonstrate either reduced carbon emissions compared with current methods of carbon black production or the use of bio-based or waste feedstock sources.

·         The use of soybean oil in tires is a significant Goodyear innovation that helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that reduces Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100% of soy protein is used in food/animal feed applications, a significant surplus of oil is left over and available for use in industrial applications.

·         Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. Goodyear’s new tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.

·         Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords. 

The 70% sustainable-material tire has been produced as a demonstration tire.

In this category, Goodyear has been recognized for its innovative and environmentally friendly traction resin, which was developed at the Goodyear Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg for use in the manufacture of Company’s ultra-high-performance tires. This special resin replaces petroleum-based resins traditionally used in the tire manufacturing and is helping the company to reach its goal of producing a 100% sustainable-material and maintenance-free tire by 2030.

“At Goodyear, we strive to make an impact by our choice of the materials we use, and Goodyear’s new traction resin has several advantages for the environment. It not only reduces naphtha/crude oil requirements, but also improves fuel consumption and reduces CO2 emissions, says Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s Vice President for Product Development in Europe Middle East and Africa.

Over the last five years, Goodyear engineers have been working to develop and test this terpene resin, which is produced out of pine trees. Combined with other raw materials in the tread compound, this new formula contributes to the reduction of petroleum-based resins consumption as well as an increase in the tire performance of 18% in rolling resistance and 30% in mileage, providing better performance both for the motorist and the environment.

This bio-based resin is currently used across the Europe Middle East and Africa regions for passenger and commercial ultra-high performance tires such as the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 and Eagle F1 SuperSport.

The first 2021 Goodyear Sustainable Reality Survey set out to find what transportation partners are currently doing to reduce their carbon footprint, and what they plan to achieve. Survey responses suggest sustainability has a significant prominence for operators in the transportation industry.

Sustainable transportation high on the agenda

Companies of all sizes give increased weight to the importance of more environmental practices. Three-quarters of all respondents recognized sustainability as an important or very important issue. Over half of fleets with 101 or more vehicles stated it is an intrinsic part of their company values.

“The responses to the 2021 Goodyear Sustainable Reality Survey are very encouraging and underline that environmental sustainability is high on the industry’s agenda. Besides the increased focus on emission reduction while manufacturing new vehicles, fleet managers are clearly taking actions. They are responding to climate challenges in a positive way to meet carbon reduction targets and support the move towards a climate-neutral future.” says Maciej Szymanski, Director of Marketing for Commercial Business Europe at Goodyear.

By 2022, 4 out of 5 fleets have clear sustainability goals

Fleets over 500 vehicles are leading the way by incorporating an environment focused culture in their daily operations and 70% of larger fleets indicate they also have defined clear green goals. By Fall 2022, 4 out of 5 total surveyed fleets indicate they will have sustainability KPI’s in place, representing an increase of 38% vs 2021.

“While the industry moves towards a greener future it is also at a critical point as transportation and logistics providers across Europe are facing fluctuations in demand and increasing operational challenges marked by time and cost pressures as well as augmented complexity. We see a clear need for straightforward solutions meeting both sustainability and efficiency goals. To further accelerate the move, it is key to make sustainability a given.” says Szymanski.

Most popular measures and the importance of incentives

One of the most common actions being made is the renewal of vehicle parcs, with 68% of operators refreshing their fleet with cleaner options. Alternative drive trains are on the rise, fleets with over 500 vehicles, 43% are switching to electric, hybrid, or LNG-powered vehicles.

About sixty percent of fleets are already using more fuel-efficient tyres. In that context, Goodyear is supporting truck manufacturers and transportation companies in their move towards a greener future. The recently launched Goodyear FUELMAX ENDURANCE tyre has low rolling resistance and durability attributes that aid fleets with their sustainability goals without adding complexity in the daily operations.

To further decrease their carbon footprint, fleets are opting for retreading (42%). With the reuse the tyre carcass and less raw materials, waste and energy involved in the production, this is another straightforward solution for fleets to lower their carbon footprint. Goodyear retreading uses the same quality treads as for its new tyres, offering similar performance.

Additional measures to improve fleet environmental sustainability include the optimization of driver behaviors such as eco-driving techniques. Fifty-five percent of operators already employ this practice, with the setting of fuel consumption objectives also underway.

Of fleets surveyed, 45% state they are familiar with upcoming environmental legislation applicable to the transportation industry, including environmental incentives and taxation schemes, in addition to other more restrictive regulations.

Financial incentives such as tax breaks are key motivators for more than 70% of questioned fleets. A third or surveyed companies view sustainability as a way to reduce operating costs.

Cost and complexity putting a brake on green mobility

Main blocker to take even more sustainability actions is cost, over 60% indicated some solutions are too expensive. Seventy-nine percent of fleets with more than 500 vehicles report they would be encouraged to make greater improvements if financial incentives were available.

Forty-five percent of companies state more sustainable solutions are too complex to be integrated into their everyday activity. However, haulers recognize the power of data-intelligence. 54% of operators now implement telematic solutions to help improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Goodyear’s full suite of one-stop tyre and fleet management solutions can be easily integrated into fleet operations. Goodyear’s Drive-Over-Reader and DrivePoint provide automated tyre analysis in seconds every time a vehicle visits the yard. Goodyear TPMS gives real-time data to operators and allows full connectivity to ZF’s Transics-branded FMS (FleetManagementSolutions) portfolio including a web-based back-office solution (TX CONNECT) and portal providing insights into the technical performance and health of the trailer park (TX TRAILERFIT).

                                                                                                              - END -

About Sustainable Reality Survey

Within the Sustainable Reality Survey, Goodyear invited fleets from across Europe to express their views on sustainability. 985 fleets from 36 European countries participated during August and September 2021. The full report is available on demand, please contact your regular press contact at Goodyear. 

Working with non-profit organization TreeNation, one tree has been planted for each survey participant, further underlining Goodyear’s commitment and Corporate Responsibility framework Better Future.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced it will adopt 100% renewable energy at its Goodyear plants across Europe and Turkey* in the first of a multiple-phase plan to procure 100% renewable energy in all its facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2022.

The decision, made in conjunction with the company's development of its long-term climate strategy, will enable Goodyear to reduce operational impacts and aligns with its goal of reducing carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2023 versus a 2010 baseline. The company already achieved 19% intensity reduction in 2020 as reported in its latest Corporate Responsibility Report .

By purchasing around 700,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, Goodyear can ensure that manufacturing plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, and the Netherlands will operate on sustainably sourced electricity. This shift will reduce the company's carbon footprint by up to 260,000 tons.

Goodyear will increase usage of renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power to achieve this critical shift. To ensure electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources, Goodyear procures GoOs (Guarantee of Origin), which provide information to electricity customers on the source of their energy.​​

"Switching to 100% renewable electricity at these production facilities fits perfectly with our commitment to reduce our carbon​ footprint," said Chris Delaney, president, Goodyear EMEA. " Furthermore, this decision shows that we are taking serious steps to continuously reduce Goodyear's environmental impacts which is vitally important to ensure a better future for us all."​

This is one of a number of actions Goodyear is taking to ensure it contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions. Earlier this year the company announced it would construct Luxembourg's first large scale solar carport which is now operational.

* France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, and the Netherlands will be included in the first phase, other Goodyear locations such as Goodyear in South Africa, and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and UK will be reviewed in a second phase.

The first power station which has now been completed was inaugurated at Goodyear’s testing facilities in the presence of the Minister of Energy and Land Management, Claude Turmes.

This photovoltaic carport consisting of 1,500 solar panels and covering a parking lot of around 4,000 m² is the first in Luxembourg of this scale. With an annual production of 657,500 kWh, the carport will generate enough energy to supply more than 170 households.

Completion of the second station is targeted for 2022. When finished, both stations will produce annually around 5 GWh of electric power and reduce carbon emissions by around 50,000 tons for the next 20 years, while providing clean energy yearly for more than 1,300 households.

“After having switched to green and carbon-free energy in May 2021 at our Luxembourg site, we are now also producing it for Luxembourgish households”, says with pleasure Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s Vice President for Product Development in Europe Middle East and Africa. “This project is part of Goodyear’s global Better Future corporate responsibility goals and also highlights our willingness to support the Luxembourgish government in its aim to switch to 100% renewable energies.”

Anouk Hilger, Head of Renewable Energies Enovos Luxembourg added: "Enovos, in close collaboration with our industrial partners, strive to swiftly progress the implementation of renewable energies and thus the decarbonization of the energy sector. Enovos’ ambitions are enabled by its expertise to develop and put in action renewable energy sourced solution. This joint project illustrates our continuous commitment to drive the energy transition in the Greater Region."

“Solar energy is the energy of the future, and the latest figures are a clear proof that more and more residents and companies are embracing it: the production of photovoltaic power plants is constantly increasing. I am therefore very pleased that Goodyear, an industrial actor of the north of the country, is joining this development and consequently helps to convince even more players that photovoltaic energy is not only beneficial for the climate, but also for the economy” said the Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes.

“In 2020, Goodyear associates were more agile and resilient than ever before, delivering on immediate business needs and serving our customers, first responders and essential workers,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman, chief executive officer and president. “Our actions continue to be guided by Goodyear Better Future, our corporate responsibility framework, that unites us in our commitment to safety, quality, integrity and responsibility.”

Goodyear’s 2020 report is organized by the pillars of the Better Future framework, which are Sustainable Sourcing, Responsible Operations, Advanced Mobility and Inspiring Culture. Some of the report’s highlights include:

Sustainable Sourcing: In 2020, Goodyear introduced its fourth consumer tire line that features soybean oil as a replacement for petroleum-derived oils. Soybean oil is a bio-based, renewable resource that helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in low temperatures, a key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing grip in dry, wet and winter weather.

Responsible Operations: In 2020, Goodyear continued its work to reduce its environment impact, achieving a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity, a 19% reduction in energy intensity and a 55% reduction in water intensity, all compared to a 2010 baseline.

Advanced Mobility: In 2020, Goodyear continued its focus on improving fuel efficiency by achieving a 31% reduction in rolling resistance and an 8.2% reduction in tire weight in its global consumer tire portfolio from a 2005 baseline. In addition, Goodyear introduced bold technology goals, including for all Goodyear tires to be data- and sensor-enabled intelligent tires by 2027 and for the development of a 100% sustainable-material and maintenance-free tire by 2030.

Inspiring Culture: In 2020, associate membership in Goodyear’s Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) continued to grow. The seven ERGs now have more than 3,000 global members and 32 global chapters. Despite the pandemic, the ERGs held more than 200 professional development and networking events in the past two years.

Goodyear’s 2020 report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: Core option. This year’s report can be found on Goodyear's Corporate Website corporate.goodyear.com 

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

The first power station will be a photovoltaic carport consisting of 1 500 solar panels, covering a parking lot of around 4 000 m². With an annual production of 657.500 kWh, the carport will be the first in Luxembourg of this scale and will generate enough energy to supply a number of households.

Completion of the first station is targeted for August 2021 while plans for the second power station are targeted for 2022.

When finished, both stations will produce annually around 5 GWh of electric power and reduce carbon emissions by around 50.000 tons for the next 20 years, while providing clean energy yearly for more than 1,200 households.

“Thanks to this project we will produce local green and carbon-free energy for Luxembourgish citizens, “said Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s Vice President for Product Development in Europe Middle East and Africa. “We are pleased to help the Luxembourgish government in its goal to the switch to 100% renewable energies."

Erik von Scholz, CEO of Enovos Luxembourg added: "Enovos in close collaboration with our industrial partners strive to progress swiftly the implementation of renewable energies and thus the decarbonization of the energy sector. Enovos’ ambitions are enabled by its expertise to develop and put in action renewable energy sourced solution. This joint project illustrates our continuous commitment to drive the energy transition in the Greater Region."

“Solar energy is the energy of the future, and the latest figures are a clear proof that more and more residents and companies are embracing it: the production of photovoltaic power plants is constantly increasing. I am therefore very pleased that Goodyear, an industrial actor of the north of the country, is joining this development and consequently helps to convince even more players that photovoltaic energy is not only beneficial for the climate, but also for the economy” said the Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes.

If you're the type of driver who likes a spirited drive in a fun car, tire choice is important because the right tires will give extra grip when you're pushing around a corner. If you're more concerned with economical driving and a comfortable ride, you'll want a tire with slightly different properties.

Tires built for efficiency and comfort (often called touring tires) are a great choice for long journeys. Not only could you see a reduction in fuel consumption but the tires will also filter the effect of small bumps in the road's surface, making for a smoother ride.

Performance tires, on the other hand, feature tread patterns and rubber compounds made for grip. This means improved responsiveness and handling on the road (or the track!) but the trade-off is often increased fuel consumption.

There are some tires that offer the best of both worlds, though. Take the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2. Designed with fuel efficiency in mind, theses tires also offer great handling and braking performance in dry or wet conditions, just in case you come up against tricky conditions or just want to enjoy an exciting ride.

Get your pressures right

No matter what type of tires you have, you need to keep them properly inflated to get maximum fuel mileage. Underinflated tires can increase fuel consumption from anywhere between 0.6% and 3%*. The more underinflated your tires are, the more fuel you'll use.

To find the right pressure for your vehicle's tires, take a look at the sticker on the inside of the driver-side door (if not, check your handbook). Here, you'll find the correct pressures for your front and rear tires. Don't go by the maximum pressure reading on the side of your tire, always follow the recommendations from the manufacturer.

Time to get new tires?

If you're shopping around for new tires with fuel consumption in mind, there are a few things you need to look out for. The first is rolling resistance; this is the effort needed to keep a tire rolling. A high rolling resistance tire means your engine will need to work harder to keep your wheels moving. It's important to look for tires with low rolling resistance as this is one of the main things that will help you save fuel. To lower the rolling resistance of tires, manufacturers use advanced rubber compounds formulations and innovative tread patterns.

The next things to look out for is the weight of a tire. A lighter tire is going to reduce the overall weight of your car. While this difference might seem insignificant, your car's engine isn't going to be working quite as hard without that extra weight. Over tens of thousands of miles, this can make a huge difference to your fuel economy.

Rolling resistance and weight are two prime concerns for tire manufacturers. Goodyear, for example, is working to reduce rolling resistance by 40% and tire weight by 9% by 2025 — from a 2005 baseline — across its entire consumer portfolio.

If reducing your fuel consumption is important to you, you need to drive economically. This means going easy on your inputs; brake smoothly and accelerate gently, where possible. But you should also pay attention to your tires, as they have a serious impact on how much fuel you're using.

*Source: fueleconomy.gov

An easy check is to regularly monitor tire pressures. Tires lose pressure over time, and under-inflation can cause tire damage. Many vehicles are now fitted with electronic tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), but tire pressures should still be checked manually with a pressure gauge. Pressure values are usually found in a vehicle's handbook. Tire pressures should be checked at least once a month or ahead of fully laden journeys. Markings for load and speed ratings are molded on the tire's sidewall.

Inspect tire tread

Check the tire treads visually on a similar timescale. Look at the bars in-between the treads themselves as well as the center or outside edges for obvious signs of wear and any embedded objects.

Rotate your tires

Rotating tires could be another way to ensure your tires last longer¹. Tires fitted at the front of a vehicle usually wear differently than those on the rear, but by changing their position – from front to rear and vice versa – tire life can be extended. Rotation periods vary, but if you frequently drive at high speed or undertake long or fully laden journeys, more regular rotations are recommended. Uneven tire tread wear also indicates a need for rotation.

Balance and align your tires

Uneven wear may also signal a more serious wheel alignment or tire balancing issue. Correct wheel alignment makes tires last longer, and you will need to inspect your tires if your vehicle pulls to either side, or the steering wheel is not centered when driving straight or vibrates. If not corrected, the uneven tire wear caused will jeopardize the tires' effectiveness.

Switch tires for the seasons

If you want your tires to stay in good condition for longer, consider fitting appropriate tires for the season². As they are beneficial from 7°c, a switch to winter tires in colder temperatures is useful. The different chemical make-up gives better grip and traction at lower temperatures enhancing vehicle safety. However, they will also wear out faster if they are used on hot surfaces, so swap to summer tires when temperatures rise again.

Buy tires that take you further

The correct tires with the latest technology can take you further and last longer. The new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 tires enjoy enhanced performance but help the environment by lasting longer. The Efficient Grip Performance 2 gives at least 20% more mileage life than the next best-tested competitor³, resulting in longer life as well as reduced costs.

Improve your driving habits

Good driving habits also lessen the need for frequent purchases of new tires. A smooth and gentle driving style, avoiding road surface imperfections will benefit tire life and ensure they give their best performance. Hard acceleration and braking, or aggressive driving over speed bumps and potholes will damage your tires.

Recycle or reuse

In Europe every year, more than 3 million tons of end-of-life tires are collected to be recycled or reused. So when the need for new tires does arise, dispose of your old tires responsibly and give them the opportunity for a second life.

___

[1] Rotation of tires may not be suitable for all tires or vehicle types.

[2] In some countries regulations may require fitting of winter tires.

[3] 20%/11,000km higher mileage than next-best tested competitor. Mileage (i.e. until the legal tread wear limit is reached) compared to the four latest designs from competitors in summer HP segment (Michelin Primacy 4, Continental PremiumContact 6, Bridgestone Turanza T005, Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue). Tested by TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH in November 2019 by order of Goodyear. Tire size tested: 205/55R16 91V; Test car: VW Golf Mk7; Test location: open roads in central Germany. Report number: 713171748. Full report available at: https://www.goodyear.eu/en_gb/consumer/tire-test-reports/tire-test-reports-summer.html.

Eco-friendly driving is all about going soft on your inputs. This means braking early and gently when you need to slow down or stop. The same goes for acceleration; use smooth pressure on the gas pedal to get you up to speed. This is particularly important when pulling away from lights or junctions.

Not only will this reduce the amount of CO2 your car is kicking out but it'll also help you save on fuel.

Choose the right tires

As with any manufacturing process, CO2 is produced in making tires so it makes sense to choose the tires that will last the longest. The life span of your tires should be a key consideration if you're keen to reduce your carbon footprint but another thing you need to consider is the tire rolling resistance.

Typically a concern of larger vehicles searching for efficiency, this is also something to take into consideration in your road car. Tires such as Goodyear's EfficientGrip Performance 2 is a great example of tire that lasts longer (up to 50% longer compared to its predecessor¹) with good low-rolling resistance for summer use.

Check your tires

Underinflated tires can have a big impact on the emissions your vehicle produces. Check your tire pressures regularly to make sure they're pumped up. You can find your car's optimum tire pressures in the vehicle handbook. Running on under-inflated tires can make the car difficult to drive while increasing both fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions.

Don't overload your car

The heavier your car, the more power it'll need to move around. Remove anything from your car that you don't need for a trip. Carrying around heavy items unnecessarily can increase your carbon footprint but doing so can also cause wear and tear on your vehicle.

Roof boxes cause drag that can significantly increase your carbon emissions. If you're not using a roof box, or could carry items inside your car, remove the box from the top of your car. This will help you increase the overall efficiency of your car for a journey.

Use cruise control

On long drives, you should use cruise control if you are able. Letting the car take over some of the hard work reduces severe inputs such as hard acceleration. A steady speed is much more efficient from a fuel consumption point of view than regularly changing speed.

Drive with the windows up

While it can be nice to drive on country lanes with the windows down, at higher speeds this has a huge impact on the emissions your car produces. To combat against the increased drag caused by open windows, your car will use more fuel and therefore produce more carbon.

Get your car serviced

Ensuring your car is in full working order will help it stay as efficient as possible. Small issues could turn into bigger problems that might mean your car is using more fuel than necessary.

Reducing your carbon footprint is all about being aware of what activities could produce more CO2. With a few small changes to your driving behavior and how you maintain your car, you can successfully reduce your carbon footprint while out on the road.

____

[1] Internal estimates. Compared to predecessor EfficientGrip Performance. Tire size: 205/55R16 91V; Car: VW Golf 7; Location: open roads in Luxembourg and France

By employing soybean oil, Goodyear's use of petroleum-based oils can be reduced by up to 22 million gallons each year. Its rubber compounds also mix more easily with the polymers used in compound formulations. This, in turn, can result in both reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions during tire production, which contribute to Goodyear's goal to reduce these gases by 25% by 2023. 

“A part-for-part replacement results in significant improvements in processing," reports Dr. Bob Woloszynek, Goodyear's chief engineer for raw materials development and reinforcement technology. “We ran evaluations in our plants and we saw a 7 to 15% reduction in how long it takes to mix a batch. We can then leverage that reduction into energy savings or in opening up capacity." 

Key performance advantages  

Why soybean oil? Because it's a vegetable oil, it goes from a rubber-like substance to glass at a very low temperature, which makes it perfect for balancing performance in wet and winter conditions. “It's very easy to improve one attribute but normally there's a significant trade off,” Dr. Woloszynek comments. “We've significantly improved one attribute without taking the hit on the other."  

In the EMEA region, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 tire compound employs the use of sunflower oil. “Most of the plant or vegetable oils similar to soybean oil do have their slight differences. But we've been able to take advantage of those to extend performance benefits for applicable products," says Dr. Woloszynek. 

Sustainable ways of working 

Goodyear's use of soybean oil technology echoes the gradual shift towards sustainable materials whose benefits appeal to consumers, fleet managers, and OEMs. 

Goodyear's goal of the full replacement of petroleum-derived oils by 2040 shows innovative thinking as well as dedication to more sustainable ways of working that not only have a positive impact on the environment but on performance, too. 

Dr. Woloszynek says, "Soybean oil is a co-product of something that will always be grown because we need it to feed both people and animals. If Goodyear can take advantage of its surplus and use it for performance benefits, it's a win-win for everybody." 

Goodyear's dedication to reducing its energy usage is a long and winding road, but it's achieving results through improved efficiency; in 2019, this culminated in its energy usage being reduced by 18% compared with the 2010 baseline. For EMEA, that reduction stood at respectable 26%. The aim is to reduce worldwide energy use by 25% come 2023, which will require a stronger focus than ever on energy reduction and renewable energy opportunities.

Goodyear reduces energy consumption by keeping a close eye on energy usage in all plants to ensure each facility is as efficient as possible. In the Fürstenwalde facility, LED lighting, mixer efficiency, and leak repair products are also used to save energy. On top of this, renewable energy plays a role in Goodyear's efforts to be more sustainable, with two photovoltaic power stations being built in Luxembourg, and a number of other plants already using solar energy and hydropower.

The most impressive thing is that Goodyear's tires keep becoming more and more complex in terms of how the production process has evolved, meaning their creation consumes more energy, yet the company has continued to actually reduce its energy usage.

Greenhouse gas and other waste

Energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions are intrinsically linked; Goodyear's efforts to reduce energy consumption has led to a 19% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions since 2010. The formula is simple – the less energy the company uses, the lower the emissions.

This means that Goodyear is well ahead of its goals when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as the worldwide goal for the company is a reduction of 25% by 2023. In the EMEA region, Goodyear's greenhouse gas emissions are already down by 24%.

In terms of other types of waste, Goodyear established a zero waste-to-landfill expectation at its tire and chemical plants back in 2006, and has improved its efforts every year since; for example, last year, it also began measuring its waste by type and disposal method.

Water

While tire production doesn't, generally, use a lot of water, Goodyear's efforts towards lessening its use of water is focused on high-stress locations where it's a more valuable resource. It tracks its water use and water withdrawal data across 43 facilities, with a goal to be as efficient as possible so as not to use a burdensome amount of water in these high-stress areas.

In 2019, global water usage was reduced by 15% from the 2010 baseline, and, currently, Goodyear is drawing up new water reduction goals for the next five years. EMEA is the leading area in reducing water use, having reduced water consumption by 33% since 2010.

Goodyear's commitment to responsible tire production, with the EMEA region making progress for the rest of the world to follow, is an ongoing, inspirational journey that will continue to evolve along with the science that enables it.

According to the United Nations, more than 700 million tons of rice is harvested worldwide each year.

During the milling process, the protective outer shell, or husk, is separated from the rice grain and discarded. To reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills, the rice husks are often burned to generate electricity, leaving behind a silica-rich byproduct known as rice husk ash (RHA).

Goodyear started exploring the use of RHA silica in 2013 with positive results.

“When we consider substitute material sources, we look for the impacts on product performance,” said Dr. Bob Woloszynek, Goodyear's chief engineer for raw materials development and reinforcement technology. "We were pleased to find that compared to conventional sand-based silica, the RHA-grade material was an equivalent replacement in performance.”

RHA silica is now firmly entrenched in Goodyear's materials portfolio and used across several of its global manufacturing facilities.

Silica’s positive effect on tire performance

The addition of silica enhances a tire tread's flexibility and elasticity at lower temperatures, which gives better traction and grip. Goodyear has also found that silica improves tires’ rolling resistance when compared to carbon black. The resulting lower rolling resistance also allows for enhanced vehicle fuel economy and wet weather tire performance.

The company is now working closely with its suppliers to further expand the use of RHA silica and has set a goal to double its use by 2021.

“We are really pleased to continue developing this technology from something that would have been sent to landfill, and include it in our premium products," said Dr. Woloszynek.

The creation of smart and connected tires for fleets, electric, and autonomous vehicles helps make our roads safer for all users. These tires have the power to flag issues such as under-inflation and tire wear, and can reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tire by 30%. Goodyear aims to ensure consumer adoption of intelligent tires by 2021.

• Decent work and economic growth

Goodyear audits all of the company's natural rubber suppliers every two years to ensure its operations are not supporting child or forced labor. In 2018 and 2019, Goodyear conducted onsite audits at 98% of its supply in line with its supplier code of conduct. The company will follow up with onsite audits for the remaining 2% when travel restrictions from COVID-19 are lifted.

• Reduced inequalities

Goodyear is dedicated to creating a professional and respectful workplace and has a zero tolerance policy to protect associates from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and workplace violence.

• Sustainable cities and communities

Services such as Proactive Solutions help lower operating costs for fleets, and help them operate more efficiently. Goodyear is also collaborating with all major OEMs on electric and hybrid mobility to help usher in a better future. Half of the company's original equipment tire developments in Europe are for EVs and hybrids.

• Responsible consumption and production

Goodyear established, and continues to uphold, a zero waste-to-landfill expectation at its tire and chemical plants back in 2006. In 2019, the company reduced its global energy usage by 18% and GHG emissions by 19% versus 2010 baseline.

• Climate action

Goodyear can help influence fuel efficiency through its tires’ rolling resistance and weight. A tire with low rolling resistance and a vehicle with less weight consume less fuel and emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, Goodyear reduced rolling resistance by 29% across the company's consumer tire portfolio, worldwide.

• Life on land

Goodyear is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, which was created to recognize and promote human rights within the natural rubber value chain and avoid ecosystem conversion and deforestation, among principles. In addition, Goodyear strengthened its own natural rubber policy to further promote an environmentally and socially-responsible supply chain.

So where to next?

Despite the challenges faced in 2020, the company continues to qualify and further quantify its impact on these SDGs. But Goodyear isn't on this journey alone. Each of the company's goals require collaboration, and its positive moves are supported by the automotive industry at large, its supply chain and its workforce. This teamwork ensures that Goodyear — and its customers — understand the impact of what is being done, and to see the benefits of Goodyear's goals. The journey is ongoing, and the future looks brighter than ever.

In logistics, this means balancing the growing demand for transport of goods while working towards a more sustainable operating model. This type of business is under a great deal of time pressure, with every minute and every euro counting; optimising uptime, mileage and fuel efficiency are key, while legislation encourages them further towards reduced emissions.

2019 saw the implementation of VECTO, a simulation tool which is used for determining the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of trucks, and its use is now mandatory for specific categories of new trucks. If an OEM is not meeting these standards for emissions – namely, a reduction of 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 – the manufacturer will face severe financial penalties.  carbon-neutral future.

Large logistics businesses are putting increasingly green buying criteria in place. They're focused on how responsible selected suppliers run their operations, such as the use of renewable materials and energy, lowering CO2, and seeking for products for which the full life cycle is as sustainable as possible.

Supporting customers' needs

Goodyear's strategy is to work directly with OEMs and hauliers to address their evolving business needs and support their efforts towards sustainable transport. Often overlooked by the external world but a key focus area for the company is the role of low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tyres and their direct impact on reducing emission levels of trucks and buses as well as the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the fleet. 

A genuine win-win, however, an enormous amount of development goes into creating a tyre that ticks all the boxes on the operational side and is in line with current regulations and these that kick in this decade – and beyond. Sustainability is vital to Goodyear and is addressed with the four pillars of its Better Future framework – sustainable sourcing, responsible operations, advanced mobility, and inspiring culture.

The power of low-rolling resistance

It's truly incredible what difference a tyre can make. For a transportation fleet, the cost of the tyre is, on average, 3% of the TCO – but in reality, it can influence up to 40%. By keeping the rolling resistance as low as possible, the emissions levels and fuel efficiency of the vehicle are directly impacted.

The design of this type of tyre is a complex process, as a variety of elements can impact rolling resistance. The company looks at the design of the tread profile and ways of optimising the deformation levels of the tyre caused by load and motion forces, as well as the use of advanced raw materials. Goodyear is also at the cutting edge of developing smart algorithms that prevent tyre-related breakdowns, further optimising the product lifespan and, by extension, saving the user money. Many customers have stated that real-time tyre monitoring and the ability to plan tyre maintenance proactively have had a positive impact on the carbon footprint plus the TCO of their vehicles.

Advanced solutions such as the Goodyear Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, will not only report the pressure in real-time but will also prevent tyre-related issues before they even happen. The in-house developed algorithm, called G-predict, will send an alert to the driver and the operational manager whenever the pressure is not correct and indicate the gravity of the issue with straightforward colour code so the correct action can be taken. This might be that the tyre needs to be replaced right away, checked by a professional after the next delivery, or at the next service appointment. 

The company continues to further enhance its offering in line with emerging expectations, by working on new technologies, intelligent designs, and innovative materials to support its customers in their efforts to reduce emissions.

Fundamentally, LRR tyres are nothing new for Goodyear – however, innovation is accelerating at a rapid pace, opening the door to new solutions and the use of renewable materials such as soybean and dandelion or even rice husk ashes. On top of this, the tyres themselves are long-lasting as a result of the Goodyear Multiple Life concept. This concept includes the retreading and regrooving of truck tyres and helps to extend their service lifetime meaning far fewer tyres need to be recycled — plus they’ll deliver up to 25% more mileage while lowering the tyre costs by up to 30%.² The production of a retreaded tyre uses significantly less oil, chemicals and other materials than a new tyre and its production involves fewer emissions. All this delivers a more sustainable model of production and contributes to the EU’s objectives for a circular economy. 

Low rolling resistance and excellent mileage

Low rolling resistance isn't the beginning or the end of sustainability, but it is a vital cog, supporting sustainable transport objectives.

With the aim of rendering Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the European Commission is rolling out the Green Deal strategy with the rationale that economic growth, environmental protection and societal prosperity go hand in hand instead of being in trade-offs. 

Goodyear is firmly dedicated to continuously tailoring its value proposition, Goodyear Total Mobility, cradle-to-cradle. Goodyear's integrated product, data solutions, and service network roadmap firmly prioritise growing customer demands and emerging green goals of all industry stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, profitable, and carbon-neutral future.

_______________________

¹ Potential savings based on a Goodyear calculation model, taking into account the rolling resistance performance of new tyres. Actual savings may vary based upon vehicle condition and maintenance, traffic conditions, driver behaviour and other factors.

² Based on internal analysis by the Goodyear Innovation Centre Luxembourg (GIC*L) comparing the use of two sets of new Goodyear tyres versus the Multi-Life-Concept using one set of new Goodyear tyres, regrooving, one set of Goodyear TreadMax tyres and again regrooving.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company released its annual report on corporate responsibility performance. The report summarizes the company’s actions in 2019 that demonstrate Goodyear’s continued commitment to ethical and sustainable processes, materials and programs that can help people, communities and the environment.

Goodyear’s 2019 report features the following highlights following the four pillars established around its Better Future corporate responsibility framework:

Sustainable Sourcing: Sustainable sourcing is Goodyear’s approach to responsibly sourcing materials used for operations and products. In 2019, Goodyear increased its use of soybean oil as a replacement for petroleum-derived oils by 90%. Soybean oil is now in four of the most popular tire lines, offering enhanced vehicle grip while increasing use of a more sustainable material.

Responsible Operations: In 2019, Goodyear improved leading and lagging safety indicators as work continues to reduce the risk of serious injuries in all facilities.

Advanced Mobility: In 2019, Goodyear’s predictive servicing solution was piloted by several fleets, allowing them to forecast and schedule tire maintenance and replacement, improve overall tire management and maximize uptime across the fleet.

Inspiring Culture: As part of Goodyear’s diversity and inclusion efforts, membership in Employee Resources Groups (ERG) grew 84% globally in the last two years. A seventh group, the Goodyear Asia, India, Middle East ERG, also was added.

Goodyear’s 2019 report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: Core option, which resulted in increased transparency over previous reports. To access this year’s report, visit https://corporate.goodyear.com/documents/responsibility/2019-corporate-responsibility-report.pdf

Goodyear was named the supplier for the first models of the Taycan in 2019 and the successful relationship led to additional work with the premium German car manufacturer and two new Goodyear fitments on its all-electric model.

“We are pleased to be able to meet the high-performance demands of a prestigious vehicle such as the Porsche Taycan,” said Hans Vrijsen, Managing Director OE Consumer for Goodyear EMEA. “These additional fitments are the product of great, collaborative work with Porsche.”

Goodyear will supply the Porsche Taycan with the following fitments, bearing the Porsche certification NF0:

Original fitments

• Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 in sizes 265/35ZR21 101Y XLand 305/30ZR21 104Y XL
• Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 in sizes 245/45R20 103V XL and 285/40R20 108V XL
• Goodyear Eagle Touring in sizes 225/55R19 103H XLand 275/45R19 108H XL

Additional fitments

• Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport in sizes 255/40R20 101 Y XLand 295/35R20 105 Y XL
• Goodyear Eagle Touring in sizes 265/35R21 101 H XLand 305/30R21 104 H XL

The two stations will produce annually around 5 GWh and reduce carbon emissions by 46.300 tons, providing clean energy for around 1,200 households for the next 20 years.

As part of the company’s Goodyear Better Future corporate responsibility strategy, Goodyear previously outlined goals to reduce its environmental impact and increase its commitment to protect the environment.

Goodyear is tracking well toward that target, with the photovoltaic power stations projected to add local, green, carbon-free energy into the Luxembourg energy grid beginning in 2022.

The photovoltaic stations will expand on Goodyear’s long-standing relationship with Luxembourg’s main energy supplier, Enovos, to produce steam for production at its Luxembourg plant.

“At Goodyear, we are continuously working to reduce our environmental impact,” said Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s Vice President for Product Development in Europe Middle East and Africa. “This project will contribute to the local green and carbon-free energy supply, benefiting the community and helping to protect the environment for years to come.”

Erik von Scholz, CEO of Enovos Luxembourg added: “We are delighted to continue our great and longtime collaboration with Goodyear. This project is a prime example of our ambitions to increase our local renewable energy production and provide our customers with high quality green products for a more sustainable future.”

“I welcome Goodyear's announcement, which is perfectly in line with our policy of energy transition. By speeding up this transition, we can not only strengthen our resilience but also our independence from fossil fuel imports” contributes the Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes.

Goodyear’s concept tires are tailor-made to benefit the modern, sleek and sporty design of the Lexus. They support EV motors and are designed to improve the overall comfort and performance of the car.
 

“We are proud to have worked on this project with Lexus, a company that has been pioneering innovations in mobility for 30 years”, explains Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “This collaboration demonstrates once again the critical role tires can play in shaping the future of electric mobility.”
 

The LF-30 Electrified concept tire includes several innovative features:

• EV motor cooling: Drawing on Goodyear’s expertise in aerodynamics, the concept tires are designed to improve the cooling of the EV motors. Cool air enters through the front bumper intake and fins on the tires drive the flow towards the electric motor positioned behind each wheel. The hot air produced by the EV motor is then expelled towards the outer edge of the rim of the LF-30 Electrified.
   
• Reduced aerodynamic drag: The tire design along with the outer tire shape would improve the Lexus’ aerodynamics by reducing drag, resulting in higher efficiency and battery range.
   
• Noise reduction through biomimicry: Goodyear found inspiration in nature when designing the concept tires. The leading edges of the cooling fins are covered with fine velvet like on the wings of an owl, which enables the predator to silently catch their prey at night. Through this biomimetic solution, the rolling noise of the tire would be reduced to a minimum.
   

Goodyear’s concept tire for the Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept comes in a 285/35R24 size.

“Goodyear wants the tire to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs, said Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tire primed for the future of personalized and convenient electric mobility.”

The reCharge concept includes a number of innovative features that are built around three pillars:

Personalized

• At the core of the reCharge concept is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules, radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires. Filled with a customized liquid compound, these capsules allow the tread to regenerate and the tire to adapt over time to climatic circumstances, road conditions, or simply how you want to travel. Thanks to artificial intelligence a driver profile would be created around which the liquid compound would be customized, generating a compound blend tailored to each individual.

Sustainable

• The compound itself would be made from a biological material and would be reinforced with fibres inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world - spider silk. This would make it both extremely durable and 100 percent biodegradable.

Hassle-Free

• In addition to radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires with rechargeable capsules, the tread would be supported by a light-weight, non-pneumatic frame and tall-and-narrow shape. This is a thin, robust low-maintenance construction that would eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.

“The Goodyear reCharge is a concept tire without compromise, supporting personalized, sustainable and hassle-free electric mobility,” concluded Sebastien Fontaine, Lead Designer at the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg.

Combining a traction level to meet the severe snow 3PMSF requirement while also delivering rolling resistance performance as an A-class tire is a significant achievement. Enabling both premium traction and premium fuel efficiency – a benefit from rolling resistance performance – helps represent an example of Goodyear’s successful role in future mobility solutions.

The project represented great teamwork and cross-functional collaboration between Goodyear’s technology teams in Luxembourg and Germany, leveraging the most recent tread pattern developments conducted in the replacement all-season lines, as well as new rubber compounding formulations. The Goodyear teams have been working with vehicle manufacturers on this technological breakthrough, with fitments planned for later this year on vehicles such as the Peugeot 2008/3008/5008, DS3 Crossback and DS7 Crossback.

Several additional Goodyear fitments for other original equipment manufacturers will follow this year.

“This project is a great example of anticipating the needs of the customer, demonstrating our technical superiority, and converting advanced technology into customer benefits,” said Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s vice president of EMEA Product Development.

Note: In European Tire Labeling, there are three categories: Fuel Efficiency; Wet Grip and Tire External Rolling Noise. In the Fuel Efficiency category, seven classes exist, ranging from G (least efficient) to A (most efficient).

Goodyear is developing a bespoke tyre for Pure ETCR which will incorporate a combination of technologies inspired by Goodyear’s latest electric vehicle tyres and the new Eagle F1 SuperSport ultra-high performance range. The definitive specification of tyre will be unveiled in the Spring, ahead of the first Pure ETCR event.

A proven motorsport construction will be used, but with a treaded design that means Pure ETCR drivers can use the same tyres in both wet and dry conditions, reducing the number of tyres that need to be taken to each event. This aligns with Goodyear and Pure ETCR’s mission of working together to find sustainable solutions for the future of mobility and motorsport.

Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, said: “Goodyear is a leader in electric vehicle tyre development. In Europe, half of our original equipment tyre developments are for EVs and hybrids.

“We bring a great deal of experience to ETCR in developing tyres for electric vehicles. High-performance road electric vehicles have very different needs to their petrol or diesel equivalents. They are heavier and have more torque, delivered immediately. Goodyear has developed tyres that can cope with this instant power delivery, delivering high grip and traction hand in hand with low rolling resistance to increase range and efficiency. Our partnership with Pure ETCR is much more than just supplying race tyres. Together, we will use racing to develop technology to thrill the next generation of high-performance driver.”

Pure ETCR will be promoted by Eurosport Events; the same organisation behind the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup, which Goodyear will also supply in 2020, and will feature high-performance production-based cars representing numerous manufacturers.

The radical event format, which is based around a number of short, action-packed, wheel-to-wheel heats building towards a Grand Final, requires tyres with instant performance. For Goodyear, the focus will be on ensuring the tyres have rapid warm-up times as well as the consistency to be raced hard throughout the event. This means the drivers can go flat out from the very beginning of a race.

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the Pure ETCR promoter, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Goodyear to Pure ETCR as a founding partner of the series. Goodyear has a unique racing legacy and is all about performance and innovation; a perfect partner for our new modern electric racing flagship. This venture perfectly complements our partnership with Goodyear in WTCR, which we also expect to be highly successful. With a bespoke high-performance, all-weather design, fewer tyres need to be produced for Pure ETCR and this aligns perfectly with our sustainability commitments. We have no doubt that Goodyear will be a first-class partner on the technical and marketing fronts of Pure ETCR, a great platform to activate Goodyear #backtoracing.”

Goodyear’s return to motorsport

Since the announcement of Goodyear’s return to international motorsport last Summer, the tyre manufacturer has taken an FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 win with Jota Sport, and Jackie Chan DC Racing heads the title race. Goodyear’s comeback also includes becoming the official tyre supplier for FIA World Touring Car Cup, returning to German and UK motorsport (as the new sole tyre supplier for the British Touring Car Championship) and supplying tyres to leading European Le Mans Series teams.

Mileage and fuel efficiency are the key benefits of the new ranges for fleets operating in inter-regional and long-haul applications. In addition, they are especially developed to respond to the continuing demand for high mileage tyres, the need for increased levels of traction throughout the entire tyre life and in all weather conditions as well as the ability to cope with load variations. The new KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 ranges are replacing existing KMAX and FUELMAX products.

Goodyear KMAX GEN-2 steer and drive tyres deliver premium-class mileage; enabling predominately regional fleets to optimise tyre life and overcome challenging road conditions. The overall benefits of the KMAX D GEN-2 range are up to 25% better all-weather capability, 15% more damage resistance and 5% higher fuel efficiency¹ while still maintaining the high mileage performance of its predecessor KMAX.

Goodyear FUELMAX GEN-2 steer and drive tyres deliver high fuel efficiency combined with enhanced mileage, traction and reduced noise emissions for fleets engaged in inter-regional and long haul operations. FUELMAX GEN-2 tyres provide up to 10% improved mileage, 30% all-weather capability and less noise1, but with the same high level of fuel efficiency as previous FUELMAX tyres.

Increased connectivity via RFID

Goodyear being a pioneer and addressing the latest digitalization trends, all new KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 tyres include radio frequency identification (RFID). The RFID tag is embedded inside the tyre to allow simple identification and connectivity to tyre management and tracking systems. It enables the connectivity of the tyre to communicate with a cloud-system on an individual serial number level resulting in an efficient tyre flow management. Additional benefit is theft prevention as these tyres can be easily traced.

3PMSF and lower CO2 emmissions

From a regulatory point of view, all new tyres are compliant with the stricter winter tyre legislation including the Three-Peak-Mountain-Snow-Flake (3PMSF) marking. Because of their best-in-class low rolling resistance the new KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 ranges also contribute to lower truck CO2 emissions and support meeting forthcoming challenging CO2 legal requirements.

KMAX GEN-2 Range – Key features and Benefits

KMAX S GEN-2 tyres feature IntelliMax Rib Technology with Flexomatic sipes for precise handling and high mileage. Other benefits include short braking distances throughout tyre life, high mileage and fuel-saving low rolling resistance in all weather conditions. An optimised casing shape ensures regular tread wear and high mileage over full service life. The tread compound’s chemical formulation and polymer network give low rolling resistance and optimised treadwear performance, ensuring fuel efficiency and high mileage.

KMAX S GEN-2 steer tyres achieve2 EU Tyre Label Grades ‘B’ or ‘C’ for Fuel Efficiency, ‘B’ for Wet Grip and a single or twin wave for exterior noise level depending on size.

The KMAX D GEN-2 drive tyre has a dual tread compound developed for optimal mileage performance in particular. This combines two layers of specific rubber compounds - the top compound provides high abrasion resistance with the other offering low rolling resistance for high mileage combined with fuel efficiency. Improved casing protection and durability as well as dynamic stone ejection are also design benefits. The casings are further optimised for variations in payload, providing high mileage and regular wear in a wide range of applications and load conditions.

The directional tread design features sipes and large shoulder grooves to increase traction throughout the tyre life and extend the total service life of the tyre. Even at 75% worn, the new generation KMAX D GEN-2 tyres have significantly more traction potential remaining than its predecessor the KMAX D.

KMAX D GEN-2 drive tyres achieve2 EU Tyre Label Grades ‘C’ or ‘D’ for Fuel Efficiency, ‘B’ or ‘C’ for Wet Grip and a single wave for exterior noise level depending on size.

The Goodyear KMAX GEN-2 range comprises 9 sizes of the KMAX S GEN-2 steer tyre and 7 sizes of the KMAX D GEN-2 drive tyre.

FUELMAX GEN-2 Range – Key features and Benefits

The FUELMAX S GEN-2 steer tyre is developed for optimal mileage combined with enhanced traction. The Goodyear tread technology featured in this tyre is IntelliMax Rib Technology with Flexomatic sipes for precise handling, high mileage, short braking distances throughout tyre life and fuel-saving low rolling resistance in all weather conditions.

Other benefits are increased mileage through more wearable volume, better wet braking, better traction through clearly visible blading even when the tyre is 75% worn and even tread wear. The tread compound is formulated for fuel saving and high abrasion resistance.

FUELMAX S GEN-2 steer tyres achieve2 EU Tyre Label Grades ‘B’ for Fuel Efficiency, ‘B’ or ‘C’ for Wet Grip and a single wave for exterior noise level depending on size.

The FUELMAX D GEN-2 drive tyres feature more and deeper sipes providing life-long traction in all weather conditions, good wet braking performance and Three-Peak-Mountain-Snowflake compliance. The tread incorporates fuel-saving IntelliMax Groove Technology with hidden raindrop shaped grooves, which stiffen the tread as the tyre rotates. The large shoulder grooves increase traction throughout the tyre life and extend the total service life of the tyre. The new tread design remains clearly visible even when the tyre is 75% worn. The new design and casing shape remain stable avoiding irregular wear and giving high mileage potential. The tread compound is also formulated for fuel saving and high abrasion resistance, low rolling resistance and tough treadwear resistance.

FUELMAX D GEN-2 drive tyres achieve² EU Tyre Label Grades ‘B’ for Fuel Efficiency, ‘B’ or ‘C’ for Wet Grip and a single wave for exterior noise level depending on size.

The FUELMAX GEN-2 range comprises 9 sizes of the FUELMAX S GEN-2 steer tyre and 7 for the FUELMAX D GEN-2 drive tyre with other sizes under development.

KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 for regional and long haul are part of Goodyear’s On-Road product segment, also including the top-class fuel efficient FUELMAX PERFORMANCE Steer, Drive and Trailer tyres for long-haul applications.

Following information is available on news.goodyear.eu:

- KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 Factsheets including further technical specifications and sizes

- PR Goodyear Total Mobility 

“Goodyear’s C100 concept tire was specifically designed for the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle,” said Mike Rytokoski, Chief Marketing Officer, Consumer Europe at Goodyear. “It features technology to deliver maximum comfort and efficiency for electric mobility and the intelligent capabilities needed to support an autonomous vehicle.”

The C100 concept includes several innovative features:

• “Tall and Narrow” Structure: The C100 is nearly one meter in diameter, which compares to 60 cm for an average tire. This larger diameter would deliver efficiency, comfort and performance benefits, from lower rolling resistance – to increase the energy efficiency and range of the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle – to improved ride and wet performance.
• Custom Tread Design: The C100 features a custom, nature-inspired tread design that provides both comfort and handling benefits. With nearly 100 more blocks in its tread band than the average tire, the C100 would deliver a far quieter ride, a crucial consideration for ensuring comfort in electric vehicles. In addition, the C100’s tread groove compound is inspired by the attributes of a natural sponge. With its ability to stiffen in the dry or soften in the wet, this adaptable tread would enhance handling, grip and braking in both conditions.
• Intelligence and Connectivity: The C100 concept is designed to use advanced sensor technology. It would be able to sense road surface and weather conditions and communicate with the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle’s autonomous control system to improve driving performance. It would also feature advanced active wear technology to assess the state of the tire, allowing for proactive tire maintenance.

While the C100 is a purely conceptual design, some of its featured technologies, such as a “tall and narrow” structure, are already being supplied by Goodyear today, while others, such as intelligent tire capabilities, are being developed.

“Citroën is a mobility pioneer that throughout its history has developed iconic vehicles and groundbreaking new technologies. As they mark their 100th anniversary, Goodyear is honored to partner with Citroën in writing another chapter in the future of mobility,” Rytokoski concluded.

Geneva, March 6th, 2018 – Goodyear offered a sneak peek during the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show of its EfficientGrip Performance with Electric Drive Technology, a prototype tire for the growing electric vehicle market that will be on the road by 2019 in Europe.

Goodyear testing reveals that traditional tires can wear out up to 30% faster on electric vehicles due to the powerful, instant torque from electric motors and the additional vehicle weight from heavy battery packs.

“The combination of increasing regulations to reduce emissions, the desire to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and rapid gains in battery technology is creating an ideal environment for electric vehicles,” said Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We are working with automakers to introduce our Electric Drive Technology next year designed to address the unique performance requirements of this growing vehicle segment.”

In addition to tire durability requirements, automakers are pressing for enhanced rolling resistance on electric vehicles. Increasing range is a high priority for consumers due to an underdeveloped electric recharging infrastructure in most countries. Quiet and comfort from tires is another consideration as, at low speeds, electric vehicles generate as little as half the amount of noise as traditional vehicles.

Electric Drive Technology

To address these challenges, the EfficientGrip Performance prototype with Electric Drive Technology offers these performance solutions:

• Extended Mileage from Innovative Tread Design: The tread’s thinner sipes (small channels) allow for a larger rubber contact patch on the road surface than traditional radial grooves. With more rubber on the road, the tire can better cope with high levels of torque while maintaining high performance in wet conditions. The tread design also prevents sound waves from entering its grooves, reducing interior and exterior tire noise.
   
• High-Load-Carrying Construction: The tire cavity shape has been optimized to support the additional vehicle weight from batteries while maintaining an optimal tread footprint for high performance.
   
• Extended Driving Range: The material properties of the tread compound have been tuned for ultra-low rolling resistance to extend the vehicle range while coping with high levels of torque. In addition, the sidewall has been designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and the profile yields less rotating mass, resulting in reduced energy consumption.

“As a company with a 120-year heritage of delivering innovative products that help change the world of transport, the EfficientGrip Performance prototype with Electric Drive Technology is proof that Goodyear continues to lead on this path of future mobility,” Delaney said.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to https://www.goodyear.eu.      

Geneva, March 6th, 2018 – Goodyear’s latest concept tire, introduced at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, quite literally brings the future of mobility to life as a visionary solution for cleaner, more convenient, safer and more sustainable urban mobility.

The concept, named Oxygene, has a unique structure that features living moss growing within the sidewall. This open structure and the tire’s smart tread design absorb and circulate moisture and water from the road surface, allowing photosynthesis to occur and therefore releasing oxygen into the air.  

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 80% of people who live in air pollution-measured urban areas are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits.[1]

 “With more than two-thirds of the world population expected to live in cities by 2050, the demands on transport networks in urban environments will increase substantially,” said Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Smarter, greener infrastructure and transport will be crucial in addressing the most pressing challenges of urban mobility and development.”

Inspired by the principles of the circular economy, with emphasis on reducing material waste, emissions, and energy loss, Goodyear’s Oxygene concept is designed to integrate seamlessly into future cityscapes, featuring several performance solutions:

• Cleaning the Air We Breathe: Oxygene absorbs moisture from the road through its unique tread and inhales CO2 from the air to feed the moss in its sidewall and release oxygen via photosynthesis. In a city similar in size to greater Paris with about 2.5 million vehicles, this would mean generating nearly 3,000 tons of oxygen and absorbing more than 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
   
• Recycling Worn Tires: Oxygene features a non-pneumatic construction that is 3D-printed with rubber powder from recycled tires. The lightweight, shock-absorbing structure provides a long-lasting, puncture-free solution intended to extend the life of the tire and minimize service issues, delivering worry-free mobility. Additional safety is ensured by the tire’s open structure, which improves wet grip by helping absorb water from the tread.
   
• Generating its Own Electricity: Oxygene harvests the energy generated during photosynthesis to power its embedded electronics, including onboard sensors, an artificial intelligence processing unit, and a customizable light strip in the tire’s sidewall that switches colors, warning both road users and pedestrians of upcoming maneuvers, such as lane changes or braking. 
   
• Communicating at the Speed of Light: Oxygene uses a visible light communications system, or LiFi, for high-capacity mobile connectivity at the speed of light. LiFi enables the tire to connect to the Internet of Things, allowing vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) data exchange, which is critical to smart mobility management systems.

“Like the concept designs Goodyear has presented at Geneva in the past, Oxygene is meant to challenge our thinking and help drive the debate around smart, safe and sustainable future mobility,” Delaney said. “By contributing in this way to cleaner air generation, the tire could help enhance quality of life and health for city-dwellers.”

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to https://www.goodyear.eu.   

[1] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/air-pollution-rising/en/

The first commercial use of a new soybean oil-based rubber compound is helping Goodyear enhance tire performance in dry, wet and winter conditions. A Goodyear team of scientists and engineers created a tread compound, or formulation, using soybean oil, which is naturally derived, cost-effective, carbon-neutral and renewable.

“Goodyear’s legacy of innovation drives us to continue to apply new technology solutions, developing superior performing tires that meet consumer demands,” said Eric Mizner, Goodyear’s director of global materials science.

By employing soybean oil in tires, Goodyear found a new way to help keep the rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, a key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing the vehicle’s grip on the road surface.

Goodyear’s tests have shown rubber made with soybean oil mixes more easily in the silica-reinforced compounds used in manufacturing certain tires. This also improves manufacturing efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

Goodyear cooperated on the project with the USB, a group of farmer-directors who oversee the investments of a checkoff program on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. The USB provided some funding support for the development of Goodyear’s soybean oil application in tires.

The commercialization of soybean oil in tires as the latest technology breakthrough by Goodyear builds on the company’s other recent innovations, such as the use of silica derived from rice husk ash, another component Goodyear is using in certain consumer tires, along with current and past uses of components such as carbon fiber, DuPontÔ Kevlar®, volcanic sand and more.

We are looking for opportunities to help reduce the tire industry’s use of petroleum-derived products and also enhance the tire performance with innovative and renewable material solutions.

In our tire development we also focus on lowering the rolling resistance of our tires, which has an positive impact on reducing the fuel consumption and emission levels of the vehicle.

FuelSaving technology

Thanks to the FuelSaving Technology our EfficientGrip performance tire rages lowers rolling resistance, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions.  

Tall and Narrow’

This type of tire has been especially designed and developed for the new Renault Scenic.

Obviously ‘Tall’ stands for the rim diameter.  With a bigger rim size there will be less deformation of the tire and as a result less heat generated within the tyre, this results in lower rolling resistance and fuel savings. A taller tyre will offer also more mileage as it has more wearable rubber volume .

‘Narrow’ relates to the section width of the tire, narrower tires will enhance aerodynamics (= fuel economy) as well as better aquaplaning resistance* and a quieter ride.

Rice Husk Ash Silica 

Rice husks are burned to produce electricity and the waste waste once headed for landfills. Now Goodyear recycles the ashes as an environmentally friendly source of silica for use in its tires.

We tested the silica derived from rice husk ash over the past two years at our Innovation Center and found its impact on tire performance to be equal to traditional sources.

Soybean Oil

The use of soybean oil in tires could potentially increase the tire’s tread life by around 10 percent and at the same time reduce our use of petroleum-based oil by up to seven million gallons each year.  

On top we found during testing that rubber compounds of soybean oil mix more easily with the silica used in tires. As we can increase our plant efficiency, this has a positive impact on reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions during the production of tires.

 
BioIsoprene™

BioIsoprene is a revolutionary bio-based alternative for oil-derived isoprene developed by Goodyear and DuPont Industrial Biosciences. It is can be deployed to produce synthetic rubber – as an alternative for natural rubber and other elastomers. 

 
Please contact us for more information if you have an interest in our technologies contribution to sustainable technology.
 

Goodyear and ThinkYoung announce today that Artur Ząbczyk, a student at Poland’s Silesian University of Technology, has won their first ThinkGoodMobility Challenge. Ząbczyk’s Management and Recovery System (MaRS) is an innovative combination that recycles energy from cars, with a real-time data traffic network to minimize travel time and costs for everybody.

Imagine a smart system that can recycle all forms of energy (heat, kinetic and energy of impact) produced by the vehicle to set it ‘sailing’ (e.g. idle mode) in traffic. On top, MaRS complements the energy recovery with a smart information network including all cars on the road, contributing real-time data about velocity, accidents, and traffic signals. The system further optimizes traffic flow and the energy recovery of the cars.

Ząbczyk, 23, said: “I’m thrilled to have won the first ThinkGoodMobility Challenge. It gives my generation the chance to share smart and sustainable ideas on how to address our future mobility needs with a positive impact on the environment and society.”

“Young people will lead the way to address new societal challenges and their future needs are at the core of our innovation thinking.” Carlos Cipollitti, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg and member of the jury adds. “Artur’s proposal stood out for its sophistication and potential for implementation. Using existing technology, he created a unified system to significantly improve efficiency for both the driver and the environment. MaRS could transform inner city travel in just a few years, radically reducing emissions and costs as well as improving our quality of life.”

“I really enjoyed being part of the challenge. My most important learning as an engineer is that technology and a solid business plan must go hand in hand. If you want to convince potential partners or users, you need to take them on a journey. ” concludes Ząbczyk.

Ząbczyk’s entry was selected as the winner from 73 submissions across Europe by a jury composed of professors from Europe’s top universities, mobility innovators and industry experts. “It was great to see such a high degree of enthusiasm and innovation. The jury had quite a challenging job as all TOP 3 ideas had merit. In fact, combining these three concepts, if done successfully, could help to revolutionize  mobility over the next decade,” explains Jeremy White, Product Editor of WIRED and member of the jury.

Second place went to Jacopo Runchi from Italy with a cool 2-4 wheel modular vehicle and finishing third was Siddartha Khastgir from the UK , who developed an area-wide smart zone and credit system, rewarding travelers for making smart mobility choices. The Challenge is related to Goodyear’s research and innovation in the field of future transport and is part of its broader ThinkGoodMobility platform.

- END  -

Note to the editor

• All TOP 20 ThinkGoodMobility Challenge ideas are avaiable on the Thinkgoodmobility website​
• Carlos Cipollitti, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg and member of the ThinkGoodMobility Challenge is available for interviews.

The ThinkGoodMobility Challenge, organised by Goodyear in collaboration with ThinkYoung asks Millennials for innovative ideas to revolutionize future mobility and address challenges such as congestion, interconnectivity, sustainability and road safety towards 2025.  

The ThinkGoodMoblity challenge ran from October 15, 2015 till March 30, 2016.  

The jury consisted of:
Prof. Paul Jennings – Warwick University, UK
Prof. Thomas Engel – Luxembourg University
Jeremy White – Wired Magazine UK
Laurianne Krid – FIA
Camille Feyder – Delphi
Andrea Gerosa – ThinkYoung
Carlos Cipollitti – Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg

About ThinkGoodMobility
ThinkGoodMobility is a content and knowledge platform empowered by Goodyear on smart, safe and sustainable mobility. 

For more information:

Thinkgoodmobility research​
LinkedIn ThinkGoodMobility group​

About ThinkYoung
ThinkYoung is the first think tank that focuses on young people. It was founded in 2007 and has expanded to have offices in Brussels, Geneva and Hong Kong.
ThinkYoung carries out research, surveys, documentary films and policy proposals focusing on five fields of action: entrepreneurship, education, EU-Asia relations, EU enlargement, and environment. // www.thinkyoung.eu​

The Goodyear prototype truck tires displayed are the SUPER FUELMAX S steer tire in size 385/55R22.5 and SUPER FUELMAX D drive tire in size 315/70R22.5, and are a further development of the very successful low rolling resistance Goodyear FUELMAX range. At the IAA, these tires will be mounted on a fuel efficiency optimized DAF XF 4x2 tractor unit. In addition to their outstanding rolling resistance with A EU tire label grades, the drive tire qualify for the 3 Peak Mountain and Snow Flake (3PMSF) winter tire certification. The super fuel efficient prototype tires demonstrate Goodyear’s commitment to developing innovative products that reduce Total Cost of Ownership for fleets thanks to low fuel consumption – a key cost factor for fleet operators.

“The new Goodyear SUPER FUELMAX prototype tires illustrate our commitment to innovative transport solutions”, said Benjamin Willot, Director Marketing Commercial Tires at Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The EU tire label covers just three performance criteria but before we bring any new product to market it must meet our stringent requirements covering 50 different performance criteria.  The SUPER FUELMAX A grade rolling resistance tires demonstrate our commitment to develop advanced fuel saving truck tires for our customers with a balanced performance in the other important criteria.”

Both the steer and the drive tires’ tread compounds feature a specifically developed new formulation based on silica. Thanks to a combination of material processing and curing, the silica blends with the polymer network in a way that further reduces rolling resistance while ensuring long tread life.

The tread design of the SUPER FUELMAX S steer tire features the tried and trusted IntelliMax Groove Technology.  This limits slip, especially when cornering, thanks to hidden raindrop grooves, which close when rolling through the footprint.  The ribs support each other reducing their movement and stiffening the tread.

The tread blocks of the SUPER FUELMAX D drive tire have been re-designed and the stiffness of the blocks has been improved. Combined with the low rolling resistance tread compound, the overall tire design results in a noticeably improved fuel efficiency compared to current FUELMAX D.  Re-engineering has further decreased rolling resistance, while offering a balanced performance in other important criteria areas.  IntelliMax Rib Technology has been introduced between the central and intermediate ribs to stiffen the tread for low rolling resistance, high mileage and regular wear, thanks to the inter-locking elements.

Goodyear was the first tire manufacturer to bring a truck tire to market that met the A grade rolling resistance requirements of the EU Tire Label. This was the 385/55R22.5 LHT II trailer tire. Goodyear currently offers the Goodyear FUELMAX T in size 385/55R22.5 and 435/50R19.5, which is an A grade fuel efficient truck trailer tire.  Together with the SUPER FUELMAX steer and drive prototype tires, Goodyear customers could benefit from a combination of A grade EU tire label tires in rolling resistance on steer, drive and trailer positions.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs approximately 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.

Goodyear Dunlop Europe’s range of tires for commercial vehicles, buses and coaches includes more than 400 different tires covering in excess of 55 sizes. Many of the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers fit tires from Goodyear as standard, including DAF, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Trucks, Scania and Volvo Trucks. Goodyear also supplies tires to all major trailer manufacturers. With Fleet First, which includes the TruckForce service network, ServiceLine 24h roadside assistance, FleetOnlineSolutions Internet management system and Goodyear Retread Technologies, Goodyear provides one of the broadest ranges of dedicated services in the industry.

For more information on Goodyear and its products, visit http://www.truck.goodyear.eu​.