Japanese tire makers shift to non-crude oil materials

Bridgestone Corp. and other Japanese tire makers are being forced to shift gears by competitors in China who are undercutting them on price by 20-30%. Bridgestone is trying to genetically improve rubber trees and is also developing “biorubber,” a plant-based product that is a strong candidate to replace petroleum-based synthetic rubber. Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., meanwhile, has set a goal of producing commercially viable tires without synthetic rubber by 2013. The company has already developed the Enasave tire, comprised of 97% non-petroleum materials. Yokohama Rubber Co., which has developed a tire made of 80% non-crude-oil materials, including natural rubber and orange oil. (October 19, 2009)