Scrap tires have long been an issue in the environment. For decades they often been difficult to dispose of and when carelessly discarded, frequently contaminate and damage eco-systems, as well serving as a toxic material and fire risk.

Yet there have been major steps taken (particularly over the last two decades) to responsibly manage end of life tires, with tire manufacturers, environmental and conservationist organizations, and even third party and government agencies getting involved.

A cleaner future

Among them, is the Sailun ERANGE EV Partnership with 4ocean. Sailun has long considered real sustainability a core part of its business and sees it not only as an opportunity to reduce waste, but also about building smarter, more environmentally friendly products and contributing to a cleaner future.

4ocean, which was founded in 2017 by Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper, got its start after the two surfing friends visited Bali and noticed beaches that were littered with plastic waste, much of it having accumulated due to drifting on ocean tides.

They started 4ocean with the goal of cleaning up waste found in oceans, seas and rivers, as well as along shorelines, using sales of online products to fund clean-up activities, including the use of deep-sea cleaning equipment.

Ideal match

For Sailun, teaming up with 4ocean seemed like an ideal match. “We were looking for a partner that shared our values around sustainability and takes action regularly,” says Ron Dolan, President, Sailun Tire North America.

Dolan says this was the foundation for creating the Partnership with a Purpose launch campaign. “As we grow our business, we felt it was important to link our product innovation with environmental accountability.”

Another aspect was having the right product with which to launch the partnership. Sailun’s ERANGE EV tire, which uses the company’s patented EcoPoint3 liquid-phase mixing technology, to result in a tire that delivers low rolling resistance, with superior grip and wet weather traction, all at a value-oriented price point and designed specifically for hybrid and electric vehicles, was seen as ideal.

Foundational pledge

“Our Ecopoint3 technology in the ERANGE EV tire is the foundation of this sustainability pledge,” Dolan explains.

Partnership with a Purpose works by the formula that for every ERANGE EV tire sold across North America, 4ocean will remove 2 lbs of plastic and waste from the world’s oceans, rivers and coastlines. For a typical customer order of four tires, that translates into 8 lbs of waste removed.

For tire retailers, there is no extra step. As Dolan notes, the Partnership with a Purpose Program is built into every ERANGE EV sold in North America. A consumer comes into the store and purchases a set of tires or orders them online, and with that order, 4ocean begins removing that 2lbs of waste for each tire that’s sold.

Win-win

For Sailun, and 4ocean, the partnership is seen as a win-win—a tire designed to reduce environmental impact goes a step further, being tied to a program that is making a difference in eliminating waste and protecting eco-systems worldwide.

Through the Partnership with a Purpose initiative, customers who purchase a set of ERANGE EV tires now know they have done their part, not only in promoting environmental sustainability through lower emissions transportation, but also by playing their part in ensuring active clean-up of the world’s oceans, seas, rivers and shorelines.

ERANGE EV AT A GLANCE

Sailun launched the ERANGE EV in the U.S in 2022 and in Canada during the spring of 2023. It was introduced to fill a gap in the market for hybrid and EV owners. At the time, those that had purchased or leased battery electric vehicles in particular, found they were wearing out tires significantly faster than those with conventional vehicles.

The combination of high torque motors at very low rpm and extra weight, meant that tires designed for regular passenger cars deteriorated much more quickly due to those operating parameters.

With the ERANGE EV, the goal was to deliver a tire with uncompromising, all-around performance while at a value-oriented price point (a hugely important consideration in today’s marketplace). At launch, the ERANGE EV was able to offer significantly less rolling resistance than rivals in the market, with a significant improvement in vehicle battery range and longer lifespan.

Extensive R&D and testing were key to ensuring this level of quality and value. Sailun was able to achieve this by leveraging its extensive ties to one of the only polymer specific engineering programs in the world. The result was a tire developed using some of the most advanced manufacturing technology available, and EcoPoint3 has ensured that not only does the ERANGE EV deliver uncompromising performance and quality, but that Sailun’s huge investments in R&D and proprietary manufacturing technology can translate into affordable price points for the consumer—something that’s clearly resonating in the Canadian market as the tire’s popularity and range of sizes (37 at last count) continues to grow. Additionally, the ERANGE EV also comes with peace of mind, via its Limited Tread Life Protection warranty which covers each tire for 80,000 km in Canada (50,000 miles in the U.S.) or 60-months, whichever comes first.