First Goodyear tyres with ‘next-generation’ silica rolled out

The Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV range being launched in Latin American markets this month is the first tyre from Goodyear Tire & Rubber to contain what the tyre maker describes as a “next-generation silica” – a silica developed by PPG Industries and now marketed as Agilon performance silica. Tyres containing the silica will be introduced into other regions within the next year.

For more than a decade, Goodyear researchers worked with PPG Industries to examine the effects of chemically treated silica on tyre performance. Goodyear says the goal was to further improve rolling resistance without have a detrimental effect on traction in wet conditions. In Goodyear’s new EffcientGrip SUV for Latin America, the next-generation silica that PPG Industries produced was used in a new tread compound and a new tread pattern to provide both improved rolling resistance and improved wet traction.

“Our customers around the world are demanding more fuel-efficient tyres, but they want us to minimise the typical trade-offs,” said David Zanzig, Goodyear’s director of Global Materials Science. “Our materials scientists worked in cross-functional teams and, together with tire design and construction engineers, they derived an integrated solution that optimises performance. This new silica plays a critical role in satisfying our customers’ needs.”

Silica is used as a reinforcing agent in tread compounds and is known for its rolling resistance reduction properties. In addition, Goodyear reports that the processing of this new silica is kinder to the environment that conventional equivalents. As it is easier to mix into compounds, factories can consume less energy in their tyre production process,

In its efforts to create more environmentally friendly tyres, Goodyear has been exploring its options with silica. Last year, Goodyear reached supply agreements to purchase silica derived from the ash left behind after rice husks are incinerated.

“While no one source of these new sources of silica are able to fulfil our total demand, they each play an important part in our materials line-up as we strive to create more environmentally friendly tyres,” said Zanzig.