Are Tyres Vegan?
Veganism is rapidly growing in popularity. The past year has seen companies across the UK introduce new products to cater to the lifestyle — especially in the food and drink industry. But veganism doesn’t only restrict what we eat; it also affects what we use. It can be incredibly difficult navigating through life as a vegan, with so many items we use daily containing some form of animal product. In this article, we’ll be discussing whether tyres are vegan and how veganism is affecting the automobile industry.
Are tyres vegan?
The vast majority of tyres are not vegan. This is because most tyres are manufactured using stearic acid, a chemical compound that enhances flexibility, strength and grip in the rubber. Stearic acid is predominantly derived from tallow, a rendered form of animal fat.
Can you get vegan tyres?
The majority of tyres are made using animal fat — but not all. Michelin, one of the most reliable and long-serving tyre brands anywhere in the world, make 100% vegan tyres. They achieve this by using stearic acid derived from plant/vegetable sources. Vegan stearic acid is used across their entire tyre range, meaning you can obtain vegan tyres for any type of vehicle.
How are car companies becoming more vegan?
Vegan cars are hard to come by. Aside from the tyres, the majority of cars use some degree of leather for their interiors; this includes the seats and the steering wheel.
Some companies, though, are making efforts to become more vegan-friendly.
Toyota uses a material called SofTex in the interior of its Prius model. SofTex is a synthetic fabric that mimics leather but does not contain any animal-based materials. It also generates around 85% fewer CO2 emissions and 99% fewer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than conventional synthetic leather.
Tesla leads the market as one of the most forward-thinking car brands, consistently innovating in environmentally-friendly car designs and technologies. They already offer vegan-friendly interiors, but Tesla is going one step further and is currently producing 100% vegan cars — the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stated that they already have a design for a non-heated synthetic leather steering wheel, and are looking at including synthetic leather on their heated steering wheels, too.
Here at Wyatt Auto Services, we stock vegan Michelin tyres among our extensive range of tyres from the world’s leading brands. Serving customers throughout Barnsley in South Yorkshire, we offer a wide range of auto repair and maintenance services, including comprehensive MOTs and vehicle diagnostics. If you’re a vegan and would like to get your tyres changed to Michelin to keep consistent with your values, get in touch today. We’ll be happy to offer professionals replacements and fittings at a competitive price.