Why Raw Materials Matter in Tire Innovation | InTire Labs

Earlier this month, at Rubber Tech 2025 in Shanghai, our Head of Tire & Material Development, Ilkka Lehtoranta, represented Black Donuts Inc. and InTire Labs, the newest service in our portfolio. His presentation focused on a key question impacting the tire industry today: Why do raw materials matter now more than ever?

Raw Materials Matter in Tire Development

Every tire is a carefully engineered composite, built from natural and synthetic rubbers, reinforcements, fillers, oils, and other chemical ingredients. Each layer, tread, sidewall, belt package, body ply, beads, and inner liner — plays a vital role in keeping vehicles safe, efficient, and comfortable.

But tire engineers face the well-known “eternal triangle” of wear resistance, wet traction, and rolling resistance. Improving one often comes at the expense of another.

Today, however, advances in polymers, silica systems, and functionalized resins are helping the industry expand this triangle, creating compounds that perform better without the traditional trade-offs. Sustainability is now at the center of material innovation. The industry is moving:

Toward bio-based and recycled materials
Away from harmful substances such as 6PPD and high-PAH oils
Toward design choices that enable retreading, cleaner pyrolysis, and reduced tire wear particles
Smarter Testing for a Changing Industry

Material testing is evolving just as rapidly as the materials themselves. “Standard machines tell us what a material is; advanced tools show us how it will behave throughout a tire’s lifetime.” – Ilkka Lehtoranta

That’s where InTire Labs plays a crucial role. As the newest establishment within Black Donuts’ material research center, it provides an independent and confidential environment for advanced testing and precise material assessment. Our capabilities include:

Physical and abrasion testing: UV and ozone aging, permeability checks (DMA, LAT100, flexometer, intrinsic strength analysis)
Dynamic performance testing: viscoelastic behavior and fatigue analysis (DMA, LAT100, flexometer, intrinsic strength analysis)
Full chemical characterization: for compound development and reverse engineering (FTIR, TGA, DSC, BET adsorption isotherm, carbon–sulphur analysis)

This expertise helps manufacturers and suppliers develop advanced compounds, validate performance, and accelerate the path from lab to production floor.

The Road Ahead: Electrification, Sustainability, and Regulation

The science of tires is advancing faster than ever. New materials and smarter testing will define how the industry addresses the challenges of electrification, sustainability, and evolving regulations. At InTire Labs, our chemist team is ready to explore these trends, from idea to implementation.

Explore Further:

Download the InTire Labs Services Brochure
Learn more about our Tire R&D solutions: InTire Labs
Contact our team to discuss your project: intirelabs (at) blackdonuts.com