Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/567620
MTD September 2015 Focus on industry Also being evaluated are methods for seeding, surface vs. sub-surface irrigation, fertilization, temperature and light. In addition to the advances in rubber manufacturing and tire technology, consortium members USDA-ARS and Cornell also report signifcant progress in defning the guayule genome. Scientists may eventually be able to identify genes that can be tuned to improve qualities such as rubber yield, plant size, drought tolerance and other positive characteristics. Cooper also is working with Mike Fraley, chief executive ofcer of PanAridus based in Casa Grande, Ariz., to develop the best guayule plant with the highest rubber content. "In two years we have gone from test tubes to tires," says Fraley. Expectations that need to be met for tires utilizing guayule are the same as tires with HNR – the ability to stop quickly, good fuel economy, good wear (in many cases a 50,000-mile warranty), all-season performance and safety. And the compounds must be able to be processed on all tire manufacturing equipment and be combined into a fnal composite which will perform as expected, says Colvin. "All data so far through our multiple builds looks to be ver y good," says Yurkovich. "Tires made with guayule components look to be equivalent to our products built with HNR. Te company will do additional runs in the future. "Beginning in 2017, the company plans to build a prototype tire replacing all the natural and synthetic rubber with guayule components. We will know then if we're successful. However, even replacing 10% to 15% of the components with guayule will be a big success, due to the savings on the use of natural rubber. "Say we use it in a tire production run of a million tires and we replace three pounds of natural rubber with guayule. Tat's still a savings of three million pounds of rubber." Te company's goal is to have a tire with 100% guayule components cost the same as a tire with HNR and synthetic rubber components. "If we do this right, we should not see an increase in cost due to the guayule content. Tat would be the goal," says Yurkovich. "Te faster the industry changes, the beter of we'll be." A life cycle analysis to identify the environmental impact of a tire made with guayule and the extension into production of tires made with it is being conducted by Amy Landis, Clemson University professor, who is also part of the BRDI consortium. ■ 'Te faster the industry changes, the better of we'll be.' Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper Tire senior vice pesident, global research and development Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 20131 82