Successful Development of Tire Steel Belt Using Recycled Iron
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have secured core tire material technology aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
On September 23, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that they had successfully developed a tire steel belt that significantly reduces carbon emissions during the manufacturing process by utilizing recycled iron scrap materials and electric arc furnaces.
This technology is the result of about two years of research since 2023, when Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Steel, Hyosung Advanced Materials, and Hankook Tire established a joint research system and began developing a carbon reduction tire steel belt.
The steel belt is a steel wire component inserted inside the tire’s rubber layer. It supports the tire’s load, minimizes twisting and deformation, and enhances driving safety and durability. Unlike the rubber, which wears down during driving, the steel belt must maintain consistent performance throughout the tire’s lifespan. Therefore, it requires strict quality standards and high strength.
Conventional steel belts have been produced by melting iron ore in a blast furnace. However, for the carbon reduction steel belt, more than 80% of the materials used are recycled, such as iron scrap. This has enabled a 22% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions during production. This translates to a reduction of over 3 kg of carbon emissions per vehicle, which is similar to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed annually by a single oak tree.
Another feature of the new technology is the application of a special heat treatment process optimized for recycled materials, achieving ultra-tensile (UT) grade performance. This ensures stable driving and steering even in harsh operating environments. Tires equipped with the carbon reduction steel belt will be gradually applied to Hyundai Motor Group vehicles to be released in the future.
Hong Seunghyun, Executive Vice President of the Basic Materials Research Center at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, stated, "This new technology is the result of technological cooperation among Korea’s leading companies in the value chain, united under the common goal of a 'sustainable future.' We will continue to enhance the completeness of this technology so that it can serve as a meaningful milestone on the journey toward carbon neutrality for future generations."
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