At Tire Technology Expo in Cologne (19th-21st February), Rubber Consultants will also be promoting a new-generation eco-tyre, the 97 percent petroleum-free ‘ENASAVE 97’ passenger car tyre from the Sumitomo Rubber Group. ENASAVE 97 follows the launch in 2006 of ENASAVE ES801, a 70 percent petroleum-free tyre. The concept was developed to produce a tyre with 97 percent petroleum-free materials; this has been achieved using epoxidised natural rubber (ENR, marketed as Ekoprena), a ‘green’ material produced from a renewable resource, as a replacement for synthetic rubber.

Ekoprena is marketed and produced commercially by the Malaysian Rubber Board in two grades, Ekoprena 25 and Ekoprena 50, developed to cover the range of properties desirable for most of the expected applications for ENR

The new-generation tyre with its increased petroleum-free, natural materials reduces CO2 emissions when it is produced, and due to its reduced rolling resistance also contributes to fuel efficiency.

For further information please contact Dr Andrew Tinker.