Michelin debuts tyres containing 53pc sustainable materials
The new, fully-electric Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance was out to showcase its potential at the recent 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed on Michelin tyres that contain 53 per cent sustainable materials.
At last August’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Michelin revealed the new tyre containing 46 per cent sustainable materials it had developed for GreenGT’s fuel-cell electric racing prototype.
Today, it has taken the proportion of biosourced and recycled raw materials to 53 per cent for the tyres it has supplied to Porsche, with no detriment to the performance and safety levels that have long been hallmarks of its competition tyres.
The sustainable raw materials that go into these tyres range from natural rubber and carbon black recycled from end-of-life tyres, to orange and lemon peel, pine-tree resin, sunflower oil and scrap steel. In keeping with its ‘Michelin In Motion’ policy, Michelin plans to make all its tyres exclusively from sustainable materials by 2050.
Porsche’s upcoming all-electric motorsport programme provided Michelin with a chance to evaluate its sustainable solutions in the extreme conditions associated with topflight racing.
The French firm said it is “determined” to accelerate the development of its technologies and their carry-over to production electric-vehicle tyres, while the energy transition provides it with a valuable opportunity for growth, along with a means to showcase its expertise and penchant for innovation.
Matthieu Bonardel, director of Michelin Motorsport said: “Our close work with Porsche on the new, fully-electric 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance race car is concrete evidence of the progress Michelin has made in the fields of sustainable materials and electromobility.
“Just as it does in the FIA Formula E World Championship and motorcycling’s FIM MotoE World Cup, our involvement in the new all-electric championship alongside Porsche will enable us to accelerate the development of sustainable innovations that are ultimately accessible to all.”