Tyre material
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2023/09/20
Uniroyal tyres are built to last. Assuming they’re not damaged, you should be able to enjoy tens of thousands of kilometres of happy, safe driving. But, at some point, even the best made tyres will come to the end of their lifetime.
Why might I need to dispose of my tyres?
The most common reason is wear and tear. Over time your tread depths will decrease to a level that is no longer safe. The legal minimum depth across most of Europe is 1.6mm.
There are other reasons why you may need to replace your tyres. For example, tyres can age and, if rarely used, begin to crack. This can also happen if they’ve been incorrectly stored.
You may, of course, get an irreparable puncture or damage from ‘kerbing’ your vehicle. Also, if you’ve been involved in any sort of collison, it is important to check that your tyres have not been compromised.
How do I dispose of my tyres?
A staggering 17 billion tons of tyres are scrapped worldwide every year so we’d urge you to recycle or reuse wherever possible.
In the EU it’s illegal to dispose of your tyres in your household waste, or even take them to landfill sites. Although this may sound annoying, it’s actually good news because it encourages us to find ways of recycling or reusing them.
If you have tyres that you want to get rid of, it’s worth getting in touch with your local recycling centres as some have specific bays for tyres. Alternatively you can contact your local Uniroyal tyre dealer or companies that specialise in tyre recycling.
What do they do with them?
Tyres contain high quantities of raw materials, such as steel, textile and rubber, and these can be recycled to create rubberised surfaces for playgrounds, sports tracks and even carpet underlays. Using old tyres as an alternative fuel to coal in cement kilns has become a multimillion-pound business.
How can tyres be reused?
There are lots of uses for old tyres – from children’s swings to go-kart safety barriers. It’s worth asking your local schools or farms if they’d be interested. If not, why not try one of the creative projects featured on Pinterest? You’d be amazed at what’s possible.
You'll find lots of inspiration on Pinterest
