Ford to Pedal Some Old Tires

Ford Motor Co. and Syntene Co. have developed a process to recycle used car tires into brake pedal pads and other parts, the auto maker said Monday.

Ford said the pads, which will be used on vehicles next year, contain 50% recycled tire content. A single used tire can produce 250 pads.

The pads are being tested on a fleet of Ford Taurus police cars, Crown Victoria taxicabs and Lincoln Town Car shuttles in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada, Ford said.

The auto maker also said it is exploring additional uses for the recycled tire material, such as other pedal pads, carpet backing, splash guards and weather seals.

Ford said the process developed with Richmond, Ind.-based Syntene calls for the tires to be ground into a fine powder. After steel belting is magnetically removed, the rubber particles are mixed with plastic.

Ford said it already is the largest automotive user of tire manufacturing scrap and purchases more than 18 million pounds a year for deflectors, shields and powertrain-related seals.