The Eco-Friendly Citrus Oil Tire: Super Nano Power Rubber

That's what Yokohama calls its racing inspired citrus oil compound (yes, you heard that right, citrus oil) in the all-new dB Super E-spec passenger car tire. This advanced Super Nano Power Rubber tire compound combines citrus oil with natural rubber to reduce the amount of petroleum products needed (by about 10 percent) to produce tires, while also increasing their recyclability.

But that's not all—the dB Super E-spec also qualifies as a low-rolling resistance tire for use on hybrid vehicles. "The dB Super E-spec is also much lighter and conserves gasoline by reducing rolling resistance by up to 20 percent. Low rolling resistance tires improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted (as heat) as the tire rolls down the road," said Jim MacMaster, Yokohama executive vice president, Business Division, according to a company press release.

The company expects the tire to hit stores by summer 2009, and dB Super E-Spec will be available in four sizes for hybrid use:

• 195/55R16 86V and 185/65R15 88H for Toyota Prius
• 195/65R15 91H for Honda Civic Hybrid and Civic GX NGV
• 215/60R16 95V for Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid

Great idea and great engineering from the folks at Yokohama. This is exactly the kind of outside the box thinking that we need to advance energy efficiency and reduce petroleum use--it's not just the fuel that we put in our tanks that matters.