OHIO, August 30, 2017 - Soybean farmers are looking forward to Goodyear’s introduction of its Assurance WeatherReady tires next month, featuring a soy-based rubber compound. “Goodyear and the soy checkoff share something special: a commitment to innovation,” says John Motter, United Soybean Board chair and farmer from Jenera, Ohio.
“When we started working with them more than six years ago, it was just an idea, a way to build demand for soybean oil. Now, we have a tire that shows what soy can do on the road. Goodyear’s interest in soybean oil included a look at sustainability, a priority for many corporations throughout the United States, noted USB. “What they found was a competitive advantage – rubber compounds made with soybean oil remained soft at lower temperatures, leading to enhanced traction in dry, wet and winter conditions. Thus the name, WeatherReady.
“As we develop great products that anticipate and respond to the needs of consumers, soybean oil was one of the technologies enabling us to meet a challenging performance goal,” said Eric Mizner, Goodyear’s director of global material science. USB says the tire will be widely available in September, in a wide range of sizes, covering 77 percent of cars, minivans and SUVs on the road today.
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