The tyres on a car are essential for road safety and the safety of others. Their performance and comfort dictate road safety. An eco-friendly tyre meets specific environmental goals without compromising performance or safety.

Chris Lett, renowned tyre recycler and founder of Branigans Tyres Southport discusses key elements on Green Tyres and the science behind Eco-friendly tyres.

“If drivers know that their tyres will only last a couple of months owing to bad road conditions,” says Lett. Chris also adds that “there’s just no point in buying a brand new tyre or one with enough tread to last a year or more.”

Several eco-tyres offer better grip and fuel economy than conventional rubber compounds. There are, therefore, three Rs to remember when choosing environmentally friendly tyres: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Eco-friendly tyres use new synthetic compounds and silica rubber. The resulting tyres combine a lower weight with improved strength to improve performance through the superior grip.

In conventional tyres, silica reduces friction. As carbon molecules disperse rather than clump together and release heat, eco-tyres reduce emissions and extend tyre life.

Manufacturers of tyres have investigated a range of latex substitutes, including the natural latex produced by dandelion plants. This sustainable resource could be the future of e-friendly tyre production. Raw materials, therefore, lay a significant role in eco-friendly tyres.

“It’s great that people are willing to pay more for greener options, but if they follow the principles of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle,’ being green will very often cost less,” said Lett, who added that “Branigans does all three, and the savings are passed on to its clients.”

The second R stands for rolling resistance. This is the force needed to get a tyre rolling. Environmentally friendly tyres have lower rolling resistance, requiring less force and fuel to set them rolling. The advantage of green tyres is the fuel savings of up to 5.7 per cent in their eco-friendly tyres.

“Good quality tyres improve fuel efficiency,” explains Lett, “and if the car is more fuel-efficient, it also produces fewer emissions while being cheaper to run.” This not only reduces the environmental footprint but also saves money.

“Using fewer resources to produce a product maybe environmentally-friendly and cost-saving at once,” says Lett. Lett added that “choosing new or nearly new things that would otherwise have been thrown away is almost always cheaper.”

Premium tyre manufacturers boast about using, the third R, recycled materials. The Australian Southport tyre expert, Lett, said, “There are many ways to recycle old tyres nowadays”.

Therefore, do not be surprised if you see the R-word on the label. Using recycled rubber is a sustainable way to reduce waste, while recycling tyres contributes to closed-loop manufacturing that is environmentally friendly.

Lett added, “Some of the big tyre manufacturing companies are working on improving life span and recyclability through using different designs and materials”.

Worn out tyres are used for everything from roof tiles and rubberised road surfaces to carpet underlay and school playgrounds.

Ask your nearest Branigans Tyres workshop about their environmentally friendly tyre options.

Branigans Tyres has well-established workshops in Burleigh Heads and Southport in the Gold Coast region. Check out their full range of services or current featured promotions. Branigans award-winning affordable tyre subscriptions package starts at $7.97 and helps motorists budget for their ongoing tyre needs.

Vehicle owners are encouraged to drive in at their convenience as no pre-bookings or appointments are required. The branches are Burleigh Heads: (07) 5535 2660 situated at 13 Flagstone Drive or Southport: (07) 5591 8633 located at 1/277 Southport-Nerang Rd.

Written and syndicated by YDMA News.