During the first edition of Drive to Zero, held from 5-7 April at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris, French passenger tyre retreader Black Star announced the launch of its new retreaded tyre manufactured at the ex- Bridgestone plant in Béthune.
New Tyre Offers Lowest Carbon Footprint
The new tyre, which is claimed to be “a multi-life tyre that will offer the lowest carbon footprint in the market,” has been launched under the brand name “Leonard”, which evokes the spirit of Leonard da Vinci, a historical leader in the field of change and innovation.
The Black Star project is managed under the auspices of iWip, the Mobivia subsidiary dedicated to the circular economy which has developed know-how in terms of legal obligations on the treatment of used products as well as in terms of the collection and treatment of waste. The Black Star project aims to build an integrated ecosystem serving the second life of tyres, responding to environmental, economic and social issues.
The newly launched Leonard tyre, which is claimed to save 80% in material and up to 60% in CO2 during its manufacture, offers improved grip, increased durability and optimum safety. It also guarantees a low level of rolling resistance for lower fuel consumption and CO² emissions.
It is available in four different profiles: the 4 Seasons for passenger cars and SUVs, the 4 Seasons for commercial vehicles as well as the Summer 01 and Summer 02 for passenger cars. Each of them offers optimal performance on dry, wet or snowy roads.
The 4 summer profiles are designed for dynamic and safe driving with excellent handling and maximum grip. The all-season tyre offers a perfect combination of performance on dry and wet roads as well as on snow and ice. It also has excellent resistance to aquaplaning. The Leonard tyre is available in a wide range of sizes and pressures.
“For 2 years we worked to set up this project, transform the factory and develop our new product,” commented Laurent Cabassu, Managing Director of Black Star. “Today the entire Black Star team and I are very proud to be able to present our new Made in Béthune tyre at the Drive to Zero show. With Leonard, we have an immediately actionable and proven response to the environmental challenges of mobility. It’s a tyre serving a cause.”
