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I worked on this indirectly for 4 as as part of a pdh at Ohio State. We have had the solution to this problem since then but because natural rubber is slightly

I worked on this indirectly for 4 as as part of a pdh at Ohio State. We have had the solution to this problem since then but because natural rubber is slightly less profitable for the companies (it lasts too long and it too high quality) they use synthetic rubber. Tire dust is a problem becuase we WANT it to be a problem the solution is available but it is impossible to get funding because the tire companies don't want to use it. Thats it, that is how capitalism works. Make millions upon millions of people sick so that 3 companies can make slightly higher profits. [1] https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish

_dark_matter_ 3y ago
Can you link to this research? Is there any tire company using this technology? If the people cared we could either pay a premium for them, or regulate
- kylebenzle 3y ago
  Yes! All the big tire companies, Goodyear, Michelin and Firestone have a "natural rubber" development department and every couple years they come out with a "green tire" which they quickly drop and forget about. As for the "technology" of natural rubber, yes again, ALL military aircraft tires are only natural rubber, people know, when it matters use ONLY natural rubber. Again, we use choose to use and pollute with synthetic rubber because it is more profitable for the companies to sell us more tires that ware out more quickly. They know this and its on purpose. [1] https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish
  - olalonde 3y ago
    This is a naive and incorrect view of economics. Tire manufacturers employ synthetic rubber because that's what consumers want (probably because it's cheaper even when accounting for the lower longevity?). They do not just get to dictate which products enter the market. Which makes me highly doubt your claim that natural rubber tires are both superior AND cheaper. If you are right about that, I'm sure there are VCs who would be more than happy to fund you...
    - shepardrtc 3y ago
      That's the point, natural rubber tires are slightly more expensive. I think the parent said it was like 5% more somewhere above? Tire companies will go the cheapest route every time, so it's up to the government to make it more expensive to create synthetic rubber tires. Maybe start charging them for ocean cleanup.
christkv 3y ago
I was going to say natural rubber seems like the logical solution for this.
cscurmudgeon 3y ago
> Thats it, that is how capitalism works But we don't live in a pure capitalistic society. Where is the govt's role in this? We pay 30-40% of our earnings for govt to do nothing while politicians become rich enabling this?
- geysersam 3y ago
  Seems the issue is that we don't vote on the right politicians. I refuse to believe there are no politicians who could get behind regulating businesses that refuse to adapt superior technology for the wrong reasons.

_dark_matter_ 3y ago

Can you link to this research? Is there any tire company using this technology? If the people cared we could either pay a premium for them, or regulate

kylebenzle 3y ago
Yes! All the big tire companies, Goodyear, Michelin and Firestone have a "natural rubber" development department and every couple years they come out with a "green tire" which they quickly drop and forget about. As for the "technology" of natural rubber, yes again, ALL military aircraft tires are only natural rubber, people know, when it matters use ONLY natural rubber. Again, we use choose to use and pollute with synthetic rubber because it is more profitable for the companies to sell us more tires that ware out more quickly. They know this and its on purpose. [1] https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish https://hcs.osu.edu/our-people/dr-katrina-cornish
- olalonde 3y ago
  This is a naive and incorrect view of economics. Tire manufacturers employ synthetic rubber because that's what consumers want (probably because it's cheaper even when accounting for the lower longevity?). They do not just get to dictate which products enter the market. Which makes me highly doubt your claim that natural rubber tires are both superior AND cheaper. If you are right about that, I'm sure there are VCs who would be more than happy to fund you...
  - shepardrtc 3y ago
    That's the point, natural rubber tires are slightly more expensive. I think the parent said it was like 5% more somewhere above? Tire companies will go the cheapest route every time, so it's up to the government to make it more expensive to create synthetic rubber tires. Maybe start charging them for ocean cleanup.

christkv 3y ago

I was going to say natural rubber seems like the logical solution for this.

cscurmudgeon 3y ago

> Thats it, that is how capitalism works But we don't live in a pure capitalistic society. Where is the govt's role in this? We pay 30-40% of our earnings for govt to do nothing while politicians become rich enabling this?

geysersam 3y ago
Seems the issue is that we don't vote on the right politicians. I refuse to believe there are no politicians who could get behind regulating businesses that refuse to adapt superior technology for the wrong reasons.