Sumitomo Rubber Sustainable Carbon Black Racing Tires Enter GT500

Sumitomo Rubber Expands Sustainable Racing Tire Technology

On August 18, Sumitomo Rubber Industries announced plans to introduce Sumitomo Rubber Sustainable Carbon Black Racing Tires in the SUPER GT GT500 class during the 2026 season. The company will extend technology previously used in the GT300 class during the 2025 season, where the tires were evaluated for performance and reliability under actual racing conditions. The move brings the sustainable material technology into the GT500 category, which demands a higher level of performance. The application represents an expansion of the company’s efforts to incorporate sustainable materials into motorsports while maintaining the grip performance and durability required for competitive racing.

Chemical Recycling Supports Sustainable Carbon Black

The sustainable carbon black used in the racing tires is produced through the chemical recycling of rubber scraps generated during tire manufacturing and end-of-life tires. Materials that have traditionally been burned as a heat source can instead be reused as raw materials for new tire production. According to Sumitomo Rubber Industries, this approach is expected to reduce CO2 emissions while allowing the resulting racing tires to maintain the grip performance and durability demanded in motorsport applications. The technology therefore combines material recovery with the performance requirements of racing tires, providing a route for recycled rubber resources to contribute directly to new tire materials.

GT300 Experience Supports GT500 Application

The technology being introduced in GT500 is based on experience gained during the 2025 season in the GT300 class. Its performance and reliability were verified under actual racing conditions before Sumitomo Rubber Industries decided to apply the technology to the higher-performance GT500 category. This progression allows the company to build on practical motorsport experience rather than introducing the sustainable material technology without prior racing validation. The GT500 application is consequently an important step in demonstrating how recycled raw materials can be incorporated into demanding racing tires while preserving the performance characteristics expected in competitive motorsports.

SUPER GT Tire Supply Structure Will Change From 2027

From the 2027 season, SUPER GT will introduce a single-supplier system under which one designated manufacturer will supply tires to all cars in each class. DUNLOP will serve as the official tire supplier for the GT300 class, while Sumitomo Rubber’s supply to the GT500 class will end after the 2026 season. Despite the change, the company plans to continue promoting sustainable materials through the GT300 class and other motorsports activities from 2027. The experience gained through its racing programs is expected to support future development work for both racing tires and commercially available tires, extending the knowledge generated from motorsport applications into broader tire development.

Future Application of Sustainable Tire Materials

The 2026 GT500 program gives Sumitomo Rubber Industries another opportunity to evaluate sustainable raw materials under demanding racing conditions. Its continued work in motorsports after the GT500 supply period ends is intended to build further knowledge around sustainable materials and their practical application. The company plans to use this accumulated experience in future racing tire development as well as commercially available tires. This approach links motorsport testing with longer-term product development, while the use of chemically recycled rubber materials could help reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional treatment of manufacturing scraps and end-of-life tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sumitomo Rubber introducing in SUPER GT GT500?
Sumitomo Rubber Industries will introduce racing tires incorporating sustainable carbon black in the GT500 class during the 2026 season after successful evaluation in GT300 racing during 2025. The carbon black is produced through chemical recycling of rubber scraps from tire manufacturing and end-of-life tires. The company says the material can help reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining the grip performance and durability required for racing applications. Although its GT500 tire supply will end after 2026 because of SUPER GT’s planned single-supplier system, Sumitomo Rubber will continue developing sustainable tire materials through GT300 and other motorsports activities.