Pirelli has launched the first standard production tire for the global market that is made with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials, including Forest Stewardship Council-certified (FSC) natural rubber. Developed for JLR, the latest P Zero tire will debut on select 22-inch Range Rover wheels.
Materials
The development of the P Zero posed a significant challenge for Pirelli’s research and development department, the tire maker says, as it required combining ultra-high performance (UHP) capabilities with a high content of bio-based and recycled materials. This included recycled steel, partially sourced from the melting of scrap metal instead of virgin raw materials, while maintaining the mechanical properties of virgin steel; and rice husk-derived silica, obtained from rice processing waste and used in tread compounds to ensure top performance in the wet.
It also required circular carbon black, produced through pyrolysis oil obtained from end-of-life tyres; bio-circular polymers, manufactured from monomers derived from used cooking oil or pyrolysis oil, and replacing fossil-based polymers; and bio-resins – plant-based plasticisers that help optimize the balance between dry and wet performance.
In related news, the share of renewable and recycled materials in Continental’s tire production averaged 26% in 2024, a figure that the tire manufacturer aims to increase by 2-3% in 2025. By 2030, Continental’s target is to use over 40% of renewable and recycled materials. Read the full story here
