Kumho Announces a Greener Tyre

Korea’s Kumho Tires has announced a tyremaking first, namely that it has developed products that incorporate a new environmentally friendly material known as Lyocell. Kumho will use the material in the production of tyre cord for ultra-high performance products, and the company claims that the use of Lyocell can mimimise the production of hazardous materials during the manufacturing process.

Lyocell is used instead of rayon or polyester in the production of tyre cord. Kumho report that the new Lyocell-based cord is equal to or better than rayon cord in terms of performance, with the added bonus of not generating substances harmful to humans during manufacturing.

The first tyres incorporating Lyocell cord will be released in Europe in early 2007. Kumho intends to apply the new material to other mass produced tyres.