Modern
vehicle tyres are complex structures which contain various types of rubber
alongside many different compounds and minerals which are carefully combined to
produce properties which are optimal for durability, strength, grip, quietness
and low rolling resistance. These materials require energy and resources to
produce, and there’s an increasing interest in recovering these resources once
the tyre is no longer safely usable as a tyre (End-of-life). The complexity of
the tyre material makes recovery challenging, but there are several viable options
for reuse, recycling and the recovery of energy. In the UK alone around 50
million tyres (480,000 tonnes) reach the end of their usable life each year.
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