The citrus industry in Florida could find its business boosted – from an unusual source.
According to www.wftv.com, quoted by Freshplaza.com, hidden inside orange peel is a little known, but highly prized by-product - orange oil – which may be just the product that is needed to produce a more durable and longer lasting vehicle tyre.
"It sounds crazy, but it really works," Yokohama tyre engineer Pat Keating said.
At Showcase of Citrus south of Clermont, the company launched a new line of tyres made with orange oil. Keating refused to say how many orange peels it took to produce one tyre, saying it was a "closely guarded secret."
Keating said Yokohama had worked out a way to process the orange oil into a resin added to the rubber in its tyres, giving them a better grip and tread life.
