Nokian Tyres has developed the Betula concept tire with a tread that includes birch bark. The new product is not intended for mass production and serves as a demonstration of the company's technological capabilities in the field of sustainable materials.
Birch bark filler is used as a component of the tread rubber compound. Thanks to this, the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in the Nokian Betula tread reached 93%. In terms of design, the tread repeats the pattern of the Hakkapeliitta R5 winter non-studded tire.
The concept tire was manufactured and tested at Nokian Tyres' test sites in Finland. The company emphasizes that birch bark is being considered as a promising material for further commercial development.
From the very beginning, the potential of this material for use in tires was obvious. The Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire confirms its applicability and highlights the material's potential for commercial use in the future. Moreover, the material is not only environmentally friendly, but, according to our tests, also shows promise in improving tire performance.
The birch bark used in the Betula tire is widespread in Northern European countries and is a by-product of forestry, which makes its use attractive from the point of view of sustainable production.