Focusing on End-of-Life Tire Disposal

Probably the easiest way to help reduce the number of tires going into landfills and tire yards is to keep them in service as long as possible.

“Proper inflation can maintain the integrity of the tire carcass, enabling retreading, which saves resources and the environment,” said Jake Martin, marketing support specialist for Pressure Systems International (PSI).

Focus on preventive and regular tire maintenance, including pressure checks and recommended tire rotations.

Increasing Tire Sustainability

Today, data is king, and that is no different when it comes to tires. With more data available in today’s connected automobiles, tire OEs can make more informed decisions.

“We always look for ways to track, collect, and recycle tires. Our focus is figuring out ways to collect, break down, and utilize more recycled products into new tires more efficiently. Retreading will continue to be a focused growth area to extend original casings into second and third lifecycles,” said Nick Grandy, GM, Vocational – Industrial Services at Zonar Systems.

Bridgestone also continually evaluates ways to create more recyclable material for its products.

“Our Bridgestone E8 Commitment includes carbon neutrality goals and delivering tires made from 100% renewable materials by 2050,” said Timothy Netzel, Director, TBR Brand Marketing, Bridgestone Americas.

And, as part of Hankook Tire’s sustainable strategy, the company is participating in waste tire management initiatives or 100% recycling of end-of-life tires.

“More than 90% of the collected tires are reused and processed through material recycling and incineration. More than 40% of the tires are reused and recycled, and we are working with various tire industry associations in each country to develop technologies to increase this percentage,” said KJ Kim, TB marketing & sales director of Hankook Tire America.

Retreading is a Top Solution

Retreading is a top recommendation when looking at solutions fleets can implement today.

“Approximately 14 million retreaded medium truck tires are purchased each year, potentially preventing 14 million used tire casings from entering our waste streams and landfills. Moreover, retread tires require 68% less energy and 15 fewer gallons of oil to produce than a new tire. Keeping tires out of landfills in the first place is a key step in addressing end-of-life tire disposal,” said Netzel of Bridgestone Americas.

Retreading is one of the most significant steps you can take to extend the life of the tire casing.

“This process reduces the cost, resources, and energy required to create new tires. It is also less energy-intensive and uses fewer production materials than the new tire process. Not only does that significantly impact the planet, but it also makes a big impact on profit for fleets. Retreads can deliver nearly the same performance as a new tire at about half the cost. It is important for fleets to maintain their tires well and remove them at the appropriate time to maximize the likelihood of being able to retread,” said Jim Garrett, product category manager for Michelin North America, Inc.

Tire OEs Looking Ahead

Hankook Tire is an active participant in the Tire Industry Project (TIP) under the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) to carry out various tasks with global tire manufacturers to ensure proper waste tire disposal.

“In 2021, various stakeholders such as manufacturers, recycling companies, and government officials from all continents participated in this project to discuss ways to secure waste tire transparency, recycling technologies, and policies to promote recycling,” said Kim of Hankook Tire America.

Michelin is actively contributing to the development of the end-of-life tire recycling industry by becoming involved in tire collection systems in many countries worldwide.

“The tire industry is now one of the most advanced industries in end-of-life product management. While only 14% of plastic packaging is said to be recovered worldwide, it is estimated that 88% of end-of-life tires are now collected for recycling or reuse. Michelin is investing in and developing extremely innovative, disruptive technologies in collaboration with its partners to transform end-of-life tires or tire waste into secondary raw materials,” added Garrett of Michelin North America, Inc.