Sumitomo expands the use of recycled materials in the production of racing tires

Sumitomo Rubber Industries has announced that, as part of its Towanova initiative aimed at introducing circular economy principles into the tire industry, it will use Dunlop-branded tires made with recovered carbon black in the GT500 class of Japan's Super GT racing series.

Carbon black for the racing tires is obtained through chemical recycling of end-of-life tires and rubber waste generated at tire factories. The company notes that currently such waste is incinerated and used as a heat source, while establishing a system to reuse it as raw material will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

In 2025, Sumitomo already supplied tires made with recycled carbon black to the GT300 class of the Super GT championship, and it is reported that they "proved their effectiveness and reliability on the race track." In the 2026 season, the technology will be extended to the GT500 category, where participants drive more powerful cars, thus increasing demands on the tires as well.

In 2027, Super GT organizers will end the "tire wars," with a single tire supplier for each of the GT300 and GT500 classes—Sumitomo and Bridgestone, respectively. Sumitomo states that although the company will exit GT500 racing, "we will continue expanding the use of sustainable materials in motorsports, including in the GT300 class, and apply the knowledge gained in developing new racing and consumer tires."