Corporate News

97% Petroleum-Free "ENASAVE 97" Tires to Be Launched

2007.10.25

Dunlop Falken Tyres Ltd. of Sumitomo Rubber Group will release 97% petroleum-free "ENASAVE 97"passenger car tire, beginning March 1, 2008.  The new-generation eco-tire, minimizing its dependency on fossil resources including oil and coal, contributes to reduction of CO2 which is the main cause of global warming.  The tire will be sold in 4 sizes at suggested retail prices.

The Tokyo-based company started sale of 70% petroleum-free ENASAVE ES801 tire in March 2006 and received high appreciation from the market.  For ENASAVE 97, we developed the concept of the predecessor and succeeded in minimizing its dependency on fossil resources such as oil and coal and increasing the ratio of petroleum-free, natural materials to as high as 97% by adopting the newly developed ENR technology.  The new-generation eco-tire reduces the rolling resistance by 35%, compared with Digityre ECO EC201 and contributes to fuel efficiency.

With increased petroleum-free, natural materials, we can reduce CO2 emissions when we produce, use and dispose ENASAVE 97.

ENASAVE 97 Features

  1. 97% petroleum-free tire
    With the Evolutional Natural Rubber (ENR) technology, we developed for ENASAVE 97 EN rubber from ENASAVE ES801's modified natural rubber.  We succeeded in shifting synthetic rubber to EN rubber for sidewalls and innerliner in addition to the conventional tread, increasing the ratio of petroleum-free, natural materials from 44%* for an average tire to 97% for ENASAVE 97.
    *ratio of petroleum-free, natural materials in weight, used in our passenger car tires of average weight in 195/65R15 91S size.
  2. Newly developed ENR technology
    • High airtightness EN rubber for innerliner
      The innerliner EN rubber has high airtightness equivalent to synthetic rubber.
    • High endurance EN rubber for sidewalls
      The increased compounding ratio of silica and vegetable oil ensures endurance of sidewall rubber.
    • Increased ratio of petroleum-free EN rubber for tread
      The rubber flexibility optimized by vegetable-origined rubber conditioner boasts low rolling resistance and high grip required for tread rubber.
  3. The new tread pattern to reduce rolling resistance
    We adopted new directional pattern to amplify the performance of low rolling resistance tires.  The blocs of the tread resemble leaves in shape.
  4. 35% reduction in rolling resistance
    ENASAVE 97 reduces rolling resistance by 35%, compared with Digityre ECO EC201.  It saves fuel.
  5. Reduce 3
    We can reduce CO2 emissions for ENASAVE 97 at 3 stages of production, use and disposal.
    • Reduce 1: when we produce it
      Since we increased the ratio of petroleum-free, natural materials such as natural rubber, silica and vegetable oil to 97% for it, we can reduce CO2 by 17%*1 when we produce ENASAVE 97.
    • Reduce 2: when we use it
      The 35% reduction*1 of rolling resistance contributes to fuel efficiency*2 when we use ENASAVE 97.
    • Reduce 3: when we dispose it
      We use biomass for 57% of ENASAVE 97.  The biomass already absorbed CO2 when it grew.  It means that the tire emits CO2 relatively less than petroleum-based conventional tires when it is burned up.  We can reduce CO2 by 94%*3 when we dispose ENASAVE 97.
      *1 Comparison with Digityre Eco EC201 in 195/65R15 size
      *2 Though CO2 is reduced when driving, we cannot give specific figures for it since the amount of reduction depends on vehicle type, driving condition, etc.
      *4 The CO2reduction rate was calculated from CO2 emissions by environment impact evaluation method LCA.  The calculation method is in accordance with The Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association's "Tire Inventory Analysis Trail (1998 version)."

Tire Size and Requested Retail Price (including tax)

  • 185/65R15 88H    ¥15,960
  • 195/65R15 91H    ¥17,850
  • 205/65R15 94H    ¥20,160
  • 195/55R16 86V    ¥22,575


Epoch-making tirs made of 97% petroleum-free materials to be sold next March