Green tires, an increasingly popular trend

More and more cars are fitted with so-called “green tyres”. No, we’re not talking about the color of the rubber here. Rather, they are so-called ecological tires. Basically, an ecological tire is a tire whose impact on the environment is reduced. Is this just a sales tactic or is it real progress? Let’s take a look at what makes a tire environmentally friendly and what isn’t.

Manufacturing a tire; more and more sophisticated!

For years, tire manufacturers have been perfecting all aspects of tire design, making tire manufacturing increasingly complex. Among all the manufacturers’ arguments for green tires, there are two main ones: more savings at the pump and less pollution while driving. In order to produce these famous green tyres, the designers first reduced the mass of the tire itself (10% less raw material). They then removed aromatic oils from the manufacture of tires, as these substances were very polluting and released particles that were bad for health.

In addition, these tires have treads made with a new type of silica which slows their wear and considerably reduces rolling resistance. This allows the tires to heat up less, and therefore waste less energy and use less gasoline (and therefore produce less CO²).

A good idea at the base

Green tires are therefore not just a simple marketing campaign, but testify to a real effort by companies to reduce the impact of the automobile on the environment. While the idea behind green tires sounds very good, unfortunately, in the end, the benefits are minimal.

For example, if you drive approximately 20,000 km per year, you will only save a few tens of dollars. Also, looking at the average selling price, green tires cost 8% more than regular tires. In short, the savings made will be very small.

Fortunately, there are other options available to help you reduce your impact on the environment, while continuing to use your car. We are here to advise you to help you make an informed choice!