BMW is the first automaker to use Pirelli's new natural rubber tyres
The BMW Group is now officially the first automaker to equip one of its production models with tyres made out of certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon – courtesy of Italian tyre giant Pirelli.
By Divyank K. Bansal
Pirelli claims its new 22-inch P ZERO ∗ tyre is made using certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon.
The BMW Group is now officially the first automaker to equip one of its production models with tyres made out of certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon (a wood-based material) – courtesy of Italian tyre giant Pirelli. Starting August 2021, 22-inch versions of the new Pirelli P ZERO ∗ tyre will be used on the BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid.
As for the sustainability claim, the certification of the rubber plantations and the supply chain for natural rubber and rayon is done as per the standards prescribed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – an independent, international non-profit organisation involved in responsible forest management since 1993.
The 22-inch P ZERO ∗ tyre is also the world's first tyre to receive FSC certification. For this, Pirelli made several changes to its US plant in Georgia so that tyre production using natural rubber and rayon could begin. The '∗' in the name denotes compliance with BMW's performance requirements concerning low rolling resistance and road noise level.
This is not the first time that BMW has joined hands with the FSC. The i3, launched globally in 2013, made use of FSC-certified wood and the upcoming iX electric SUV will do the same.
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