Bridgestone Rolls Out Recycled Tyres for 2025 Solar Car Event
Bridgestone will supply advanced ENLITEN™ tyres containing over 65% recycled and renewable materials to 33 teams competing in the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC). The international solar-powered car event, spanning 3,000km across Australia from 24–31 August, provides a testbed for sustainable tyre innovation under real-world conditions.
The 2025 ENLITEN tyres feature recycled carbon black and steel derived from end-of-life tyres. Developed through collaborative efforts with ENEOS and major steel producers Nippon Steel and Sanyo Special Steel, these materials mark their first application in Bridgestone tyres.
The recycled carbon black is obtained via pyrolysis at Bridgestone’s Tokyo-based Innovation Park, while the recycled steel is processed through electric furnace melting and reformed into bead wire.
Bridgestone’s latest ENLITEN tyre iteration builds on its low-rolling resistance, lightweight construction, and puncture resistance—qualities essential for the demanding BWSC. This year's version also incorporates circular-content aramid fibre (Twaron®) developed by Teijin Aramid, reinforcing the tyre’s durability and sustainability.
In a bid to reduce emissions throughout its value chain, Bridgestone is using DHL’s GoGreen Plus maritime fuel to transport tyres. The shipping method claims lifecycle emissions reductions of up to 85% compared to conventional shipping fuels.
A sponsor since 2013, Bridgestone supports teams across all BWSC classes, including 25 teams in the Challenger Class and eight in the Cruiser Class. The competition promotes real-world applications of low-emission mobility, aligning with Bridgestone’s E8 Commitment to energy, ecology, and emotion in future transportation.
Bridgestone’s application of chemically recycled carbon black and recycled steel in ENLITEN tyres signals a shift in how performance and sustainability can co-exist. Using the BWSC as a “mobile laboratory,” the company is testing renewable tyre materials under extreme endurance conditions, an approach likely to influence tyre manufacturing practices for electric vehicles, fleet operations, and future motorsports.
Tagged with: ENLITEN tyres, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, recycled tyre materials, carbon black recycling, steel recycling, EV tyre innovation, sustainable tyre manufacturing, solar car tyres, tyre logistics, circular economy
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
Sign up for our weekly briefing on key developments across the sector.
