Harvesting rubber is no easy task. Much of the world’s natural rubber still derives from the Hevea brasiliensis, a tree that grows exclusively in the eponymous “rubber belt” at the Earth’s equator.
This drives up rubber’s cost and environmental impact. That’s why German manufacturer Continental Tires has been researching sustainable and cheaper alternatives to natural rubber.
This summer at the Tour de France, the brand will formally unveil its first bicycle tire with rubber derived from dandelions.
Dubbed “Urban Taraxagum,” the rubber tire will see a limited run this year. But it marks a big step toward Continental’s goal of launching dandelion rubber tires for consumer bicycles and vehicles within a decade.
The first run will be 700-by-35-centimeter tires serving as an “all-rounder for sporty bikes and racing bikes,” as the brand puts it.