FFA car runs on soy-made tires

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The new officers of Indiana FFA will travel the state in a car that runs on E85 fuel and has tires made with soybean oil in the tire tread compound.

Indiana Soybean Alliance donated a set of Goodyear Eagle Enforcer All Weather tires at the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville.

Replacing petroleum-based oils with soybean oil gives the tire tread improved cold-weather flexibility with better traction in wet and snowy conditions, according to ISA.

“With more than 14,000 members in Indiana high schools, FFA can spread the message that soybean oil is a great replacement for many industrial items,” said Jenna Scott, farmer and chair of ISA’s Sustainability and Value Creation Committee.

“Soybean oil makes these products more bio-based, and it increases the value of Indiana soybeans.”

Did you know? Goodyear tires containing soybean oil have been on the nationwide market since 2017.

Goodyear began exploring the use of soybean oil in select tires through a research partnership between the company and the United Soybean Board.

“Goodyear’s use of soybean oil is an example of how the company is using sustainable materials in their products,” said Tom Griffiths, a Kendallville farmer and USB director.

“With the use of soybean oil, they are replacing petroleum-based oils with a bio-based oil. The oil they are using is oil extracted from American-grown soybeans.”