Is natural rubber a plastic?
Tires aren’t made exclusively of natural rubber, they contain synthetic polymers among other things.
Additionally, by vulcanizing the rubber, three-dimensional chemical bonds resembling those found in synthetic plastics are created to harden the material.
So the end product is not really “natural” or “rubber” anymore.
If only there was a way to move goods across a country that used steel wheels and renewable energy
You have seen the state of rail cargo in the US recently? How many more cases of East Palestine do you need?
Germany has a similar problem with it’s main railroad service provider being a profit oriented company. Railroads don’t necessarily make money or turn a profit. Instead they protect from damages by other means of transportation. That’s my take on the matter, I’m sure I left many points unaccounted for