Material Composition by Tyre Type
Percentage breakdown of eight material components (rubber, carbon black, metals, textiles, zinc oxide, sulphur, additives, and carbon-based total) across three tyre categories — car/utility, truck/lorry, and OTR tyres.
| Component | Car / Utility Tyres | Truck / Lorry Tyres | Off-the-Road Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber | 47% | 45% | 47% |
| Carbon Black & Silica | 21.5% | 22% | 22% |
| Metals | 16.5% | 25% | 12% |
| Textiles | 5.5% | 0–1% | 10% |
| Zinc Oxide | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Sulphur | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Additives | 7.5% | 5% | 6% |
| Carbon-Based Total | 74% | 67% | 76% |
Beyond definitions
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How to read this table
- Each row is one material component; columns compare the three tyre categories.
- Carbon-Based Total is a summary row — it is not an additional component but the sum of rubber, carbon black, and carbon-containing additives.
- Percentages are approximate typical values — actual composition varies by tyre manufacturer, design, and vintage.
About this table
The material composition of a tyre determines what comes out of the recycling process and in what quantity. Different tyre categories have meaningfully different compositions — and those differences affect shredding energy requirements, steel recovery volumes, rubber yield, and the quality of crumb rubber or reclaimed rubber produced. This table provides eight-component material breakdowns for the three main tyre categories relevant to Indian recyclers.
Rubber content is remarkably consistent across tyre types: 47% for car/utility, 45% for truck, and 47% for OTR (off-the-road mining/agricultural) tyres. This is the fraction that becomes crumb rubber or reclaimed rubber — the primary recoverable material. Carbon black and silica (21.5–22% across all types) is the reinforcing filler embedded in the rubber compound — it stays in the crumb rubber output and contributes to its performance in CRMB and road applications.
Metal content differs significantly: car tyres have 16.5% metal (steel bead and belt), truck tyres 25%, and OTR tyres only 12%. Truck tyres' high metal content reflects the heavier steel construction needed for commercial load-bearing — more steel per tonne of feedstock means more revenue from steel scrap, but also heavier shredder loading per tonne. Textile content shows the biggest variation: car tyres have 5.5% fabric reinforcement, truck tyres almost none (0–1%, as most commercial truck tyres use steel cords not fabric), and OTR tyres 10% (fabric-reinforced sidewalls in large agricultural tyres). Textile is a waste fraction with limited recycling value — it must be separated and managed as a by-product. Carbon-based total (rubber + carbon black + some additives) shows OTR tyres are richest at 76%, car tyres 74%, and truck tyres 67% — the higher metal content in truck tyres reduces the rubber-fraction share proportionally.
Key insights
- Truck tyres have the highest metal content at 25% — a recycler with significant truck tyre feedstock will generate proportionally more steel scrap revenue than a car-tyre-focused operation.
- OTR tyres have the highest carbon-based total at 76% and high rubber content — their large natural rubber fraction makes them valuable for reclaimed rubber production, but their size requires industrial shredding equipment.
- Textile content in truck tyres is near zero (0–1%) — truck tyres' steel cord reinforcement means almost no fibre separation effort is needed, simplifying the separation stage compared to car tyre processing.
- Rubber content is consistent at 45–47% across all three categories — this consistency means rubber yield per tonne of feedstock is predictable regardless of the tyre mix, unlike metal or textile yield.
Methodology & sources
Composition data is based on published industry data for typical tyre categories as of 2024. Actual composition varies by tyre manufacturer, tyre design (radial vs bias-ply), and vintage. For project-specific yield planning, test samples of the actual feedstock supply available at the plant location rather than relying solely on typical composition data.
Related data tables
Physical and Chemical Properties of Waste Tires
Nine physical and chemical properties of waste tyres with their recycling significance — covering hardness, density, tensile strength, rubber content, steel content, textile fibres, carbon black, sulfur, and zinc oxide.
Types of Tires as Feedstock
A four-category reference table for waste tyre feedstock — automobile, off-road, specialty, and OTR (Off-The-Road) tyres — showing typical weight ranges, construction characteristics, and where each category is available in India.
Tyre Size and Weight Comparison
Physical dimensions (diameter and width in inches) and weight ranges for the three main tyre classes — passenger car, truck, and OTR (Off-The-Road) — used for shredder sizing, feedstock logistics planning, and storage calculations.