Why Pirelli & JLR are Making Tyres with Renewable Materials
Rice husks and plant-based resins aren’t the traditional materials used in tyres, but JLR and Pirelli are making it happen.
JLR will be the first in the industry to introduce tyres developed for the company by Pirelli containing more than 70% renewable and recycled materials.
The new tyres will be available in 2025 on 22” Range Rover wheels before a wider roll out across its brands.
“This is another example of how JLR is leading on sustainable design innovation in collaboration with its supply chain partners to deliver at scale, while reducing the environmental impact of our products,” says Reuben Chorley, Sustainable Industrial Operations Director at JLR.
“Achieving a more sustainable composition without compromising quality and performance is a challenge because of the complexity of tyre design.
“But working closely with Pirelli and leveraging both company’s expertise in procurement and engineering, we have been able to deliver this industry first.”
The environmental impact of tyres
Manufacturing tyres is resource intensive and relies heavily on both natural rubber and petroleum-based synthetic rubber.
It is not just manufacturing – tyres also impact the environment when in use.
Tyre wear is a major source of microplastics, accounting for about 28% of all microplastics entering the environment globally according to research from the University of Portsmouth.
Traditionally, tyres contain more than 400 chemicals including heavy metals and compounds such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and benzothiazoles.
When worn down, these substances can be released into the environment.
Tyre wear also generates fine particulate matter which can pose risks to human health.
Pirelli’s P Zero tyre for JLR
Pirelli has specifically developed this new, more sustainable P Zero tyre for JLR.
Silica is used in tyres to enhance wet performance, but mining this can have a negative impact on the environment.
Instead, these new tyres contain silica sourced from rice husks, a natural byproduct of rice milling.
Fossil-based polymers and resins have been replaced with plant-based alternatives, such as agricultural byproducts or used cooking oils.
They also contain recycled materials including carbon black.
This material is a filler in rubber compounds used to improve stability, strength and durability, but Pirelli has worked to recover carbon black from end of life tyres.
Carbon black is manufactured through incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, so recycling the material avoids this process.
“This new success is a testament to how collaboration fuels innovation - setting a new benchmark for responsible luxury without compromising performance,” said Andrea Debbane, Chief Sustainability Officer at JLR, on LinkedIn.
FSC-certified rubber
In July 2024, JLR announced it was partnering with Pirelli to use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified rubber tyres at scale.
Andrea said the company is attempting to achieve a balance between providing luxury and speeding up sustainability.
Andrea said: “This is an exciting point in our sustainable luxury journey, as we partner with Pirelli, a company that shares JLR’s sustainability ambition and is at the forefront of sustainable tyre production.”
She added: “We're looking at every aspect of our vehicles to find solutions that enable us to redefine luxury in a way that's better for people and the planet.
“By choosing Pirelli's FSC-certified tyres, we're offering our clients high-quality, high-performance tyres whilst supporting responsible forest management and protecting the communities in our rubber supply chain to drive real progress.”
The new P Zero tyre Pirelli has developed for JLR also contains FSC-certified rubber as a result of this ongoing collaboration.
