Post by ChrisB on Aug 10, 2018 20:50:46 GMT
They used to make bicycle tyres out of wood a very long time ago and it seems that they may be making a comeback! I read about this in a forestry trade newsletter.
Michelin published a report this month about plans to introduce wood into tyres by 2020, as a means of using less oil in their production.
They aim to incorporate elastomers produced from wood chips to replace a tyre's oil content. Apparently, about 80% of materials found in tyres come from oil. Michelin think that they can eventually drop that to about 20% by 2048.
Long term plans are to introduce tyres that last for the entire life of the car!
When they wear out, the tyre gets topped up using 3D printing - they call it "recharging the tread" and they are thinking electric cars visiting charging stations where you can pull up and get both your battery and your tyres recharged.
They are thinking 3D-printed tyres might appear in 15 years or so but they expect to have the first tyres made from wood in less than two years.
