New compounds will allow it to reduce the ratio of high-priced natural rubber

Tyre manufacturer Goodyear says it has developed a series of new proprietary compounds allowing it to use more than 15% synthetic rubber in its tyre formulations with no loss of performance. The price of natural rubber has risen rapidly in recent years, outstripping synthetic prices. Natural rubber now stands at a 20 year high at close to E1.8 per kg.

Goodyear’s new formulations have been developed at its technical centres in Akron in the US and Luxembourg in Europe. According to Joseph M Gingo, Goodyear’s executive vice president of quality systems and chief technical officer, they will help the company control its rising raw materials bill.

“They do not eliminate our raw material cost concerns, but they do give us greater flexibility in the event of further natural rubber price increases or supply disruptions,” Gingo said. According to rubber industry research group ISRG, tyre makers consume around 70% of global natural rubber production. It estimates average synthetic rubber substitution levels in the tyre industry at around 8%.