Advancing UHP tire performance with Twaron®

Tire Tech: What key trends are shaping the UHP tire market today? 

Tony: The UHP tire segment is growing as vehicle designs evolve. Heavier EVs and premium SUVs require tires that can handle increased loads while maintaining efficiency and durability.     

At the same time, sustainability is becoming a priority for manufacturers, with growing interest in both circular materials as well as lower rolling resistance. Tire makers are looking for reinforcement materials that balance strength, weight, and environmental impact.    

Tire Tech: How does Twaron® contribute to meeting these performance demands?  

Tony: Twaron® provides high tensile strength while remaining lightweight. In UHP tires, it allows manufacturers to optimize the number of reinforcement plies, reducing tire weight without sacrificing structural integrity. 

A lighter tire translates to lower rolling resistance, which is critical for EVs as it helps extend battery range. For internal combustion engine vehicles, this means lower CO2 emissions during the tire’s use phase. Twaron® also improves durability, which extends tire lifespan and reduces material waste over time.    

Tire Tech: What advantages does Twaron® provide for handling and stability?  

Tony: Twaron® is a high-modulus material, meaning it maintains stiffness under high loads. This enhances a tire’s ability to maintain shape during cornering and high-speed driving, improving steering precision and stability.  

It is commonly used in the cap ply, where it reduces tire deformation at high speeds. This results in better grip, more predictable handling, and improved safety. Because Twaron® can be tailored to meet specific design requirements, tire manufacturers can fine-tune their products for performance, comfort, or longevity, depending on the application.    

Tire Tech: Sustainability is a major industry focus. How does Teijin Aramid support this?  

Tony: Twaron® inherently contributes to sustainability by reducing tire weight, which in turn lowers energy consumption. But we’re also driving sustainability further by incorporating recycled content into our fibers. 

Last year, we received the Tire Technology Materials Innovation Award for our re-spinning process, which allows us to incorporate recycled aramid fiber into new yarn at a commercial scale. This represents a significant step toward closing the material loop in tire reinforcement.    

Tire Tech: What is the roadmap for increasing recycled content in Twaron® fibers?  

Tony: Right now, we can produce Twaron® with 10% recycled content. The challenge lies in maintaining the strict quality and performance standards required for tire reinforcement. Our physical recycling process allows us to reintroduce recovered aramid fibers into production, but the spinning process demands extreme precision.     

We are continuously refining our techniques, and we aim to increase recycled content to 30 – 40% in the coming years. Beyond that, we are also exploring chemical recycling and renewable raw materials to create a fully circular solution.    

Tire Tech: How is the industry responding to these developments?  

Tony: There is strong interest across the tire industry, particularly in high-performance and racing segments, where innovation tends to be adopted first.     

Sustainability is now a key factor in material selection, and tire manufacturers are actively seeking solutions that align with their long-term environmental goals. While it will take time for these advancements to reach mass production in consumer tires, we see a clear trajectory towards broader adoption.