Sumitomo Rubber Working On 100% Petroleum-Free Tire With Reduced Rolling Resistance

November 18, 2008 12:15 p.m. EST

Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Japan's second-largest tire maker will sell tires there that don't contain petrochemical materials by 2013, a Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. company spokesman said Tuesday.

Along with eliminating petrochemical materials, the new tires are designed to spin more smoothly, which will improve gasoline mileage. It's all part of the company's strategy to fight climate change.

Sumitomo (OTCPK: SMTUF) is eliminating petroleum materials from its products to minimize its dependency on fossil resources - including oil and coal - that contribute to CO2, which is the main cause of global warming.

In March of this year the company released its "ENASAVE 97"passenger car tire, which is 97 percent petroleum free. The rest of the materials in the tire come from oil-free materials that include steel wires, vegetable oil, fibers from plant cellulose and natural rubber.

Right now, the ENASAVE tires sell for about 30 percent more than regular tires but they reduce rolling resistance by 35 percent.

A typical tire contains about 44 percent natural materials.