Tyre disposal has again come to the fore but the interesting point this time has been that a non-tyre industry party has supported the introduction of tyre legislation. This is to govern correct tyre disposal and recycling of old tyres for the purposes of safety.

Why should you scrap or recycle old tyres?

In May 2009, Nazma Shaheen was travelling northbound along the M5 when a tyre burst. The car clipped a curb and rolled over, throwing Shaheen out of the car. After such a tragic incident, and recorded as an accident, one of the contributing factors was said to be the age of her old car tyres.

Industry thoughts on tyre disposal legislation

Within the industry, TIC stated tyre manufactures add anti-ageing chemicals to rubber compounds used in tyres, however these are only active when in use. The advice is that when a tyre reaches six years old it should not be placed into service. There have been numerous calls to improve the regulations for aged tyres by NTDA, RAC Foundation, and even VOSA considered recommending that tyre age be a factor included into an MOT test.

Old car tyre safety advice

We have previously written about caravan tyre safety which talks about their tyres being left in garages for long periods of time during winter. This can lead to safety issues as TyreSafe also explained:

“The anti-aging chemicals used in tire rubber compounds are most effective when the tire is used regularly. The repeated stretching of the rubber compound helps to resist the formation of cracks and ensures the tire remains flexible and elastic. When tires remain static and exposed to the sun’s rays [and ozone] for a prolonged period, the protective chemicals within the compound are broken down and destroyed. This leaves the tire more exposed to damage from UV rays and can make the tire brittle, hard and inelastic.”

What does this mean for old car tyres?

So will Alan Crickmore’s vote of support mean that we see tyre disposal legislation passed through for old tyres? Could further support come from an environmental view, as old car tyres face the scrap instead of being properly recycled? In the future it could well mean all tyres that are 10 years or older are banned and disposed of.

Remember our tyre safety advice

• Speeds below 50-60mph help reduces tyre wear, degradation, and increases fuel efficiency
• Drive smoothly at constant speed, any harsh acceleration or braking causes increased wear on tyre
• In-correct tyre pressure can increase tyre wear but you can help save fuel with correctly inflated tyres
• Be aware of products made from scrapped tyres (porous hosepipes, carpet underlay, pencil cases)
• Buying part-worn-tyres? They must have at least 2mm tread and be marked as part-worn

If you are going to dispose of your tyres make sure this is done in an environmently friendly way – trading standards will help to identify official waste disposal organisations. Alternatively try looking up collectors on the tyre disposal website.

Image credits go to sfrancisball from Flickr.

Related posts:

1. Caravan tyre safety often overlooked
2. TyreSafe support Responsible Recycling Scheme