The days of smelling burning rubber could be over with new tyre tech
Have you ever smelt a car tyre before and thought, “Wow they really do have a strong rubber smell”.Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI), the company behind brands Falken and Sumitomo here in Australia has created a new rubber processing technique that is said to reduce the rubbery smell in tyres by over 50%.
Those who work in the manufacturing, storage and sale of tyres are exposed to the quite strong chemical aromatic odours of the rubber, which in the long term could pose health concerns. This is also true for any potential tyre fire that could occur, sending thick, black plumes of smoke into the air as well as a heavy scent of rubber.
After successfully identifying the factors that cause natural rubber to make that distinctive rubbery smell, SRI have created what they call "Reduced Odor Natural Rubber," which is a new type of natural rubber that gives off significantly less tyre smell.
The process to create this new tyre happens by suppressing the breakdown of odour-causing non-rubber components, such as proteins and lipids found in natural rubber while it is in its raw material form. This new manufacturing process is already being applied to some of SRI's tyres.
Smell plays a big part in the way we purchase a car with the aromatics of the interior materials such as plastics, wood, leather and fabrics setting the tone and prestige of a vehicle. A less smelly tyre could also mean you get a more fragrant car, or at the very least a less pungent smell of burning rubber from local hooligans in your area.
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