Beyond the Wheel

November 8, 2024

By Jeff Hutton

The shape of a soybean isn’t quite circular; it can vary from almost spherical to elongated and flat. However, the application of soybean oil in household goods and other products just goes around and around. And that includes tires.

Soy-based tires have become a staple in the Goodyear fleet, and for many, the road to sustainability is paved with soybeans.

From the Field to the Wheel

With financial support from the United Soybean Board through checkoff investments, Goodyear was the first to champion using soybean oil in its tire products in 2017, calling it a “naturally derived, cost-effective, carbon-neutral and renewable tire technology.”

Goodyear created a soybean oil-based tread compound that keeps the tire rubber flexible in changing temperatures. This is key to maintaining and enhancing grip between the vehicle and the road surface.

“Farmer investment and support in researching and developing new soybean products continue to generate significant wins for consumers, the environment and our industry,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Past President Randy Miller. “Using soybean oil in tires is a perfect example of our checkoff dollars driving sustainable innovation and partnership.”

Using bio-based instead of petroleum-based oils makes sustainable sense, says Kelly McGlumphy, head of Global Sustainability Communications for Goodyear. “We’ve increased our use of bio-based oils to help us reach our goal of fully replacing petroleum-based oils in our products by 2040,” she says. “When considering our total sustainable oil usage in place of petroleum-based oils, we maintained our 2022 usage rates. We continue to implement strategies and investigate materials to meet this goal.”

One example, McGlumphy says, is using soybean oil in Goodyear’s tires. “We use commodity soybean oil — a surplus that’s available beyond food applications — in our polymer and tire manufacturing processes in various ways, depending on the application,” she says.

Goodyear, the only manufacturing company using soybean oil in its tires, offers a variety of products with soybean oil compound, including the Assurance WeatherReady, Assurance ComfortDrive, Eagle Exhilarate and Eagle Enforcer All Weather tires. Soybean oil is also featured in the company’s Wrangler Workhorse HT, Metro Miler G152 and G652, Endurance WHA waste haul tires, and some Goodyear racing tires.

The WeatherReady and ComfortDrive tires tread compound contains 100% soybean oil, reducing petroleum-based oil up to 60% and 62%, respectively. Soybean oil in the tread compound for the Eagle tires has resulted in a 45% reduction in the petroleum oil.

Goodyear also notes soybean oil has improved tire flexibility at low temperatures, helping the rubber remain pliable during cold weather while enhancing traction in rain and snow.

Ankeny Police Sergeant Mark Moeller, Detective Kris Lindell, Electronic Storage Detection K9 Sandy
and Sergeant Corey Schneden with Ankeny Police Department’s new set of wheels. 

From Soybean Pod to Police Pursuit

In 2023, two Iowa law enforcement agencies tried out the soy-based tires, courtesy of ISA.

Complete sets of tires were installed on three Ankeny Police Department (APD) vehicles — an unmarked K9 unit and two patrol vehicles. ISA then donated new tires to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for two Dodge Durango SUVs and a Dodge Charger cruiser.

“The ISA donation of Goodyear Eagle Enforcer All Weather tires with soybean oil meant that the department could continue its goal of using more sustainable and eco-friendly equipment,” says Corey Schneden, a sergeant for the APD. “This donation helped the police department reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment.”

“These tires have performed really well for us,” says MCSO Chief Deputy Ben Veren. “Considering the weather conditions we operate in and the type of driving we engage in, the tires have held up very well. And with the type of work we do, we need reliable tires.”

“We appreciate local law enforcement's hard work and dedication, and we’re proud to know the department can rely on soy while keeping our communities safe,” says Miller.

“Knowing that soy — a product grown in Iowa — is used in producing these tires is a source of pride for the local community,” Schneden says. “This donation from ISA represents a great example of how innovative technologies can support local farmers and businesses while also helping to reduce our use of petroleum-based products.”

Marshall County Sheriff Joel Phillips says the implementation of these tires speaks to the technology and advancements in the use of soybeans over the past three decades. “We support our agriculture community in Marshall County,” he says. “Both Ben and I started farming 30 years ago and didn’t realize what soybean products would be available in today’s world. Who knows what the next 30 years are going to bring? We’re always looking for renewable, sustainable resources.”

On average, Phillips and Veren say their deputies patrol 200 miles of roadway in Marshall County daily. That equates to 35,000 to 40,000 miles on these patrol vehicles annually.

“Whether it’s traveling low speeds or high speeds, responding to emergencies, or engaging in pursuits, we really rely on these products for our patrol vehicles,” Veren says. “It’s nice to have American-made soy oil-based tires to help us take care of duties on the road.” He adds that the donation from ISA was critical to MCSO’s mission to safeguard and protect the public.

Making a Difference and Supporting Farmers

Of course, law enforcement officers aren’t the only users of these soy-specific tires. Everyday drivers have used these “new wheels” for the past seven years.

Veren says soy-based tires are making a real difference, whether in one of his patrol units or his personal vehicle, both on the road and out in the field. “These tires are holding up really well,” he says. “The bonus is that, while it helps us and all drivers, it also means we can continue supporting Iowa soybean producers.”

For more information, go to goodyear.com/en_US/learn/tire-basics/soybean-oil.html