Goodyear claims ‘industry first’ with methane-based tire reinforcement

Akron, Ohio – Goodyer Tire & Rubber Co. has claimed an industry’s first with the commercial launch of a new tire tread using carbon black from methane pyrolysis.

The US tire maker has used the reinforcement materials for the ultra-high performance, all-season ElectricDrive GT tire, in size 235/40R19, said a 10 May statement.

The EV tire, according to Goodyear, is the first tire using this type of carbon black and available for sale.

Lincoln, Nebraska-based Monolith supplied the “green carbon black” which is manufactured through a plasma-based methane pyrolysis process.

Using renewable electricity, Monolith’s process splits the methane molecule into its constituent elements – carbon and hydrogen.

The technology, therefore, delivers carbon black and hydrogen “with no combustion required,” said Goodyear.

Goodyear entered into a collaboration agreement with Monolith in December 2021 for the development of methane-based carbon black for its tires.

The tire maker said it aimed to expand the use of the Monolith carbon black across additional product lines in the coming years.

It is also planning to investigate, with Monolith, the potential use of new technologies and feedstock streams, such as sourcing methane from waste.