Mitas a.s. is planning to test the first agriculture tire made from agricultural cultivated crops.
The company says it is using rubber extracted from the Taraxacum kok-saghyz (Kazakh dandelion) to complement rubber tree latex in the compound of agriculture tires. The goal is to have the first prototype of the dandelion tire during 2015.
Mitas is also involved in the Drive4EU project researching the possibilities of using rubber from the Kazakh dandelion.
"We are examining different ways to use natural and renewable materials to produce our tires," says Andrew Mabin, sales and marketing director. "Our research and development department is actively seeking new ways of improving our manufacturing process, which includes researching new raw materials or substitutes.
"We are one of several tire manufacturers researching the benefits of the Kazakh dandelion in producing a more sustainable rubber for our tires."
