HANOVER, Germany—Goodyear; Pirelli and C. S.p.A; Smithers Rapra; Versalis S.p.A.; and MegaRide S.r.l. received accolades for their achievements in tire technology, each taking home a Tire Technology International Award for Innovation and Excellence from the 2018 Tire Technology Expo.
In addition, Ulf Sandberg, senior research scientist at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He is one of the world's foremost experts on tire/road noise.
Goodyear's research and development efforts involving the use of soybean oil in tire tread compounds earned the Akron-based tire maker the award in the "Environmental Achievement of the Year" category.
Throughout the last few years, Goodyear has worked with the United Soybean Board to develop soy-based technology that the tire maker claims likely could be a replacement for traditional petroleum oil. The soybean oil-based compound, which Goodyear said could enhance tire performance, is being used in two new tires—The Assurance WeatherReady and the Eagle Enforcer All Weather.