Pirelli Is Making World-First Sustainable, Natural Rubber Tires For The BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid

For the first time ever, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will put its seal of approval on an automotive tire. The Pirelli P Zeros sold with the BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid will be certified as ecologically sound by the non-profit organization.

The tires are produced with FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon. That means that the plantations the tires’ materials come from are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers.

“Before even reaching the road, sustainable mobility begins with raw materials,” said Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, senior VP for sustainability at Pirelli. “With the world’s first FSC-certified tire, Pirelli once again demonstrates its commitment to pursuing increasingly challenging goals in terms of sustainability, a testament to the constant work on innovative materials and increasingly cutting-edge production processes.”

Along with being made of sustainable materials, the tires are designed for low rolling resistance, which helps reduce fuel consumption. The low-resistance tires also produce less noise, which may provide a greater benefit than you think.

Noise pollution from busy roadways can be as hazardous to our health as air pollution from cars, the World Health Organization reported in 2020. Loud roadways reportedly cost Parisians more than three healthy life-years each, according to a study quoted by the WHO.

“The use of tires made of certified natural rubber is a pioneering achievement for our industry,” said Andreas Wendt, head of purchasing and supply at BMW. “In this way, we are helping preserve biodiversity and forests to counteract climate change.”

The BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid will feature 275/35 R22 tires for the front and 315/30 R22 tires for the back. The SUV pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six to a single electric motor. They combine for a total system output of 389 hp (290 kW / 394 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 50 MPGe and 30 miles of electric-only range.

Pirelli will produce the FSC-certified tires at its Rome, Georgia plant.