The common dandelion for green tires

Eco-sustainability and respect for the environment have become more and more important in the last years and production of green tires is no longer a dream but it will soon be a reality.

As a matter of fact Bridgestone together with several companies from the project Penra (Program for Excellence in Natural Rubber Alternatives) are working on a new green tire made of the common dandelion.

It looks like this common flower, known as Taraxacum officinale, has similar peculiarities of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). As a matter of fact from the dandelion's milky liquid we can make rubber, that will soon become a renewable resource to produce green tires.

Tests made in the labs of Bridgestone in Akron and Tokyo gave great result showing very good performances of this natural tires. But we have to wait until 2014 for larger testings.