Chloe Zhang
Tires are a significant source of plastic pollution, with tire wear contributing an estimated 1.8 million tons of microplastics annually in the US alone. Tires are made of natural rubber and plastic, as well as other materials, and release a toxic cocktail of chemicals and heavy metals into the environment. While tires can be recycled or burned to reduce waste, they still pose a pollution problem, especially when it comes to water pollution, with tire particles found in the gills and stomachs of marine animals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tires contain plastic | Yes |
| Percentage of plastic in tires | 30-40% |
| Percentage of rubber in tires | 60-70% |
| Other materials in tires | Steel, fillers, heavy metals (copper, cadmium, lead, zinc), carbon, and natural or synthetic rubber |
| Impact of tire plastic on the environment | Microplastics from tires contribute to air and water pollution, affecting marine life and potentially humans |
| Efforts to reduce tire plastic pollution | Recycling of tire scraps, use of alternative materials (e.g. dandelions, soy oil), technology to capture tire particle runoff, and push for more sustainable tire designs |
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What You'll Learn
Tires are made of natural rubber and plastic
Natural rubber on its own is too soft for use in tires, and it wears out quickly. It also struggles to handle different weather conditions, softening in high temperatures and struggling to grip in cold weather. However, when combined with synthetic rubber and other additives, it becomes much more durable and suitable for use in tires.
Tires also contain a range of other materials, including steel, polyester, nylon, rayon, and aramid, which are used to reinforce the rubber and provide added resistance, endurance, and comfort. Over 200 raw materials go into tire composition, and the specific combination of these materials can vary depending on the intended use of the tire.
Tires are a significant source of plastic pollution, as they shed microplastics during use, and when they are disposed of, they can end up in landfills or waterways, impacting marine life. While there have been efforts to recycle and repurpose used tires, there is also a need to develop more sustainable tire designs to reduce their environmental impact.
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Tires are a source of microplastic pollution
Tires are made of natural rubber and plastic, and they are among the most common plastic polluters on Earth. Tires contribute to pollution in our oceans, and the rubber in tires contains plastic polymers that often end up as pollutants in oceans and waterways. Tires are estimated to be one of the largest sources of microplastics entering the aquatic environment.
A 2013 report by Tire Steward Manitoba, Canada, found that passenger light truck tires lost nearly 2.5 pounds of rubber during their service life (with an average service life of 6.33 years). The Kohl study found that Americans produce the most tire wear per capita and estimates that, overall, tires in the U.S. alone produce about 1.8 million tons of microplastics each year. The amount of microplastic waste that ends up in waterways depends on many factors, such as the location of the road and the weather; rain, for example, can cause more particles to flow into the environment.
John Weinstein of the Citadel exposed shrimp to tire particles in a lab setting and found that the animals ate the particles, which also got stuck in their gills. Once ingested, the particles balled up in the shrimp's guts. Weinstein noted that the particles do not cause immediate death but instead have chronic long-term effects that have not been extensively studied.
Microplastics in tire dust could also be exacerbating climate change. A mass die-off of salmon in US West Coast streams two decades ago was attributed to a chemical called 6PPD that is added to tires to prevent them from cracking. When exposed to ground-level ozone, 6PPD transforms into multiple other chemicals, including a compound found to be acutely toxic to several fish species.
There are several ways to combat the problem of tire microplastic pollution. For example, road surfaces could be made less abrasive or more porous to reduce or collect tire wear particles. Additionally, technology to capture tire particle runoff from roads could be improved. Increasing scientific and public awareness about the issue is also essential.
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Tires contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals
Tires are made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and plastic, with some tires having more plastic components than others. Tires are a significant source of air, soil, and water pollution, and their particles have been found to have harmful impacts on marine life.
Tires contain a mix of toxic substances, including heavy metals and chemical cocktails. The heavy metals found in tires include zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper. These metals can contaminate the environment, especially when tires are burned without proper safeguards in place. For example, John Weinstein's research at Citadel found that tire particles were ingested by shrimp, causing potential long-term health effects.
In addition to heavy metals, tires contain a range of toxic chemicals and compounds, many of which are carcinogenic. A chemical called 6PPD, added to tires to prevent cracking and degradation, has been found to cause the death of salmon when exposed to ground-level ozone. This chemical, found in tire dust, can transform into multiple other harmful chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone and 6PPD-q.
Tire emissions, in the form of whole tires, tire dust, and chemical compounds, can be transported through the atmosphere, soil, and water, causing widespread pollution. The production and use of tires generate heavy metals, radionuclides, and PAHs, which can be toxic alone or when mixed as chemical cocktails.
The environmental impact of tires is a complex issue, and while there have been some positive developments in recycling tire scraps, the lack of regulation and measurement of tire emissions has led to a significant source of pollution that requires further research and attention.
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Tires can be recycled or burned
Tires are made of natural rubber and plastic. They are highly durable and non-biodegradable, which means they can consume valuable space in landfills. Tires that aren't recycled or burned often end up in landfills—according to a 2018 report, about 16% of tires meet this fate. The amount of landfill-disposed tires per year nearly doubled between 2013 and 2017.
However, tires can be recycled or burned. Recycling tires helps to reduce the number of tires in storage, which is beneficial because tire stockpiles create a great health and safety risk. Tire fires, for example, can burn for up to a month, causing substantial pollution in the air and ground. Illegal dumping of scrap tires can also pollute ravines, woods, deserts, and empty lots.
There are several ways to recycle tires. The pyrolysis method, for example, involves heating whole or shredded tires in a reactor vessel containing an oxygen-free atmosphere. In the reactor, the rubber softens, and the rubber polymers break down into smaller molecules. These molecules eventually vaporize and exit from the reactor. These vapors can be burned directly to produce power or condensed into a fuel oil. Some molecules are too small to condense and remain as gas, which can also be burned as fuel. The tire pyrolysis process, when performed properly, is a clean operation that produces little waste or emissions.
Another way to recycle tires is to shred them and use them in landfills, replacing other construction materials. Shredded tires can be used as a lightweight back-fill in gas venting systems, leachate collection systems, and operational liners. They can also be used to cap, close, or cover landfill sites. Using shredded tires as a back-fill and cover material is also more cost-effective, as tires can be shredded on-site instead of hauling in other fill materials.
Tires can also be burned for their fuel value. Whole tires, for instance, can be introduced into cement kilns, where high gas temperatures cause almost instantaneous, complete, and smokeless combustion of the tire. Alternatively, tires can be chopped into small chips and injected into a precalciner combustion chamber. Tires are often burned for their fuel value, with cement manufacturing being the largest user.
Overall, the trajectory for used tires is positive. The recycling of tire scraps into products such as playgrounds, sports fields, and building materials has increased dramatically over the years. According to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, the reuse of tires increased from 11% in 1990 to 81% in 2017.
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Tires are being redesigned to be more sustainable
Tires are an often-overlooked contributor to plastic pollution. They are made of natural rubber and plastic, as well as other petrochemicals and minerals. As tires wear down, they release rubber and plastic particles onto roads and, eventually, into waterways, where they can have harmful effects on marine life.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Tire manufacturers are increasingly focusing on sustainability. For example, Bridgestone and Goodyear have unveiled new tire concepts that incorporate sustainable materials and design features. Bridgestone's "Wireless-In-Wheel" technology, which has been demonstrated at IndyCar races, features tires containing guayule, a drought-resistant source of natural rubber that can augment or replace rubber from the hevea tree. The company is also working on a prototype with Porsche that uses 53% renewable materials, including lemon peels. Goodyear's 2020 ReCharge concept proposed biodegradable tread that could be recharged with refillable capsules.
Other companies are also making strides towards sustainability. Yokohama's Advan A005 tire, which debuted at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, contains 33% sustainable materials, including biomass-derived rubber. Continental, meanwhile, has committed to pushing beyond 65% of eco-friendly materials in its UltraContact NXT tire and is working towards a future where 100% sustainable tires are the norm.
In addition to these design innovations, the tire industry is also exploring new ways to recycle and reuse old tires. For example, Wastefront, a Norwegian firm, has developed a pyrolysis-based process to recycle carbon black and synthetic oils from tires, reducing the carbon footprint of these materials by 80%. The company plans to open its first tire recycling plant in 2025 and is already selling recycled carbon black to other companies. Bridgestone has also saved 300 million tires from being thrown out through its retreading business, which offers a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to new tires.
While there is still much work to be done, these efforts represent a promising step towards more sustainable tires and a brighter future for the automotive industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, tires are made of natural rubber and plastic.
It depends on the type of tire. Only about 60-70% of a tire is rubber compounds, the rest is a mix of various petrochemicals and minerals. Some tires have more plastic components than others, such as those with plastic liners or spikes for cold weather.
Yes, tires are a significant source of air and water pollution and may be affecting both wildlife and humans. Tires produce microplastics, which are ingested by marine animals and have been found to cause neurotoxicity, growth retardation, and behavioral abnormalities. Tires also contain high levels of potential pollutants such as zinc and chlorine, which can be released into the air if burned in mixed-fuel facilities or without proper safeguards.
Researchers are working on increasing the 'natural rubber' component of tires by using materials such as dandelions and soy oil. The recycling of tire scraps into products such as playgrounds, sports fields, and building materials has also increased dramatically in recent years.
