Yokohama cuts SR use with citrus-modified NR

Tokyo -- Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has developed a process that combines citrus oil with natural rubber to form a compound the company claims reduces the use of petroleum products in tyres by 80 percent.

The development of the new compound -- dubbed Super Nanopower Rubber --is part of Yokohama´s global EcoMotion environmental program. The first product to use SNR is a passenger tyre being launched in Japan called the Decibel Super E-Spec, Yokohama said.

That new tyre also is lighter, offers lower rolling resistance and incorporates a new polymer inner liner that YRC said improves air retention, thereby helping consumers maintain proper tyre inflation pressures, which in turn help cut fuel use.

Yokohama claims the new tyre has 18-percent lower rolling resistance than comparable previous generation tyres.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)