Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is in an advanced stage of producing fuel- efficient tyres with silica derived from rice husk ash. The Akron-based company utilises ash left over from the burning of rice husk to produce electricity as an environment-friendly source of silica for use in its tyres. Silica is mixed with rubber in tyre treads to increase the rubber’s strength and reduce rolling resistance, which improves fuel economy. It also can have a positive impact on a tyre’s traction on wet surfaces.