Tires made from trees

If a new research is anything to go by, automobile owners around the world may some day soon be driving on tires that are partly made out of trees, which could cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy.

In the research, wood science researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), US, made some surprising findings about the potential of microcrystalline cellulose – a product that can be made easily from almost any type of plant fibres – to partially replace silica as, a reinforcing filler in the manufacture of rubber tires.