Orange oil tires replace a small amount ofpetroleum in thetire tread with oil made from theorange fruit. This increases tire performance, and offers green marketing. Since 2008 the technology has been used exclusively by theYokohama Rubber Company.[1]
Orange oil is used for itslimonene compound. Combined withnatural rubber and silica, orange oil creates a compound labelled "Super Nano-Power Rubber Compound (SNPR)" by Yokohama.[2] Inall-season tires orange oil is used for longer tread life, betterfuel economy andtraction.[3] Thetemperature of the tire in normal conditions and constantvelocity keeps the orange oil in a moreviscous state, while the increase in temperature associated with cornering, braking andacceleration causes the orange oil to become sticker, having better traction.[4] For racing tires orange oil technology allows the tires to maintain a consistent level of stickiness over more laps, causing the breakaway to be more predictable.Micro-flexibility between the road and the tread is improved due to the orange oil.[3] Lowerrolling resistance in orange oil tires results in longer tread life and better fuel economy.[1][2][3][4] Stiffer tread elements used to extend tread life can be used without compromising tire grip because of orange oil.[3]
The BluEarth-1 was featured in theMuseum of Science's "Making a Greener Tire" exhibit, displaying the orange oil technology.[2] Yokohama does not disclose how much orange oil is used in making the tire but one engineer is quoted as saying “a percent, of a percent, of a percent” by Popular Mechanics. The largest environmental impact does not come from the orange oil reducing the use of petroleum, but the increase in tire life and fuel efficiency.[3]
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