USTMA producing standardised tyre tread particles to advance scientific research

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) intends to produce cryogenically milled tyre tread (CMTT) and provide samples to researchers in order to advance scientific study on tyre and road wear particles (TRWP). Representatives from the industry have presented information about this initiative at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America, a virtual meeting that’s taken place between 14 and 18 November.

“We know that researchers face limitations in trying to create representative tyre and road wear particles for accurate scientific study,” says Sarah Amick, vice-president EHS&S and senior counsel, USTMA. “To support researchers and advance their work, USTMA is using a standardised methodology to produce cryogenically milled tyre tread, samples of which we will provide to researchers who study the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with tyre wear particles.”

A surrogate material for studies

CMTT is the product of a standardised and reproducible laboratory process that grinds (or mills) tyre tread to simulate the tyre particles that are normally generated by the friction between tyres and road surfaces. CMTT is a mix of tiny rubber pieces that are representative of tyre tread but do not contain chemicals or elements arising from the road surface or any interactions with it.

For researchers who study TRWP, CMTT offers a surrogate material that eliminates external contamination sources that make contact with tyres during normal operational use. CMTT is not a direct replacement for the study of TRWP, but it allows researchers to isolate and focus studies on the tyre tread component.

CMTT methodology developed by TIP

The methodology used for CMTT production was developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP). TIP’s aim is to contribute to a more sustainable future by proactively identifying and addressing the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle of tyres.

“The Tire Industry Project created this methodology to support research on tyre wear by providing a reliable and affordable material for lab experiments,” says Anne Cécile Rémont, Director of TIP. “With more than a decade of experience researching TRWP and producing tyre test materials we understand the scientific importance of representative test materials; CMTT is complicated and costly to produce, and we support efforts to remove barriers to the use of appropriate materials for TRWP research.”

Researchers interested in learning more about CMTT and obtaining a CMTT sample for research may submit a request via the USTMA website at ustires.org/CMTT. USTMA hopes to have CMTT samples available to ship to researchers as early as the second quarter of 2022.