Where Do Tyres Come From?

In decoding a global supply chain, tyres follow a specific blueprint of manufacturing and distribution, with little room for flexibility. The tyre industry is driven by demand. We are putting more cars on the road every day due to rapid urbanization and as a result, the demand for tyres increases. But where do tyres come from?

The supply network is involved in supplying raw materials, natural and synthetic rubber, and chemicals. The formation of the rubber compound is involved in production management, faced with challenges of oil prices, fluctuations in raw materials and exchange rates. Production is interconnected and involves design of commercial and passenger wheels (for example tread design), quality testing, logistics, manufacturing, sales and more. Transportation and distribution are the final steps to get the product to aftermarket sales or an automotive manufacture.

If you live in Australia, your tyres will come from overseas. Chances are your tyres are made in the USA, Korea, Thailand, China, Russia, Mexico, or Japan. A single tyre brand may design a tyre in one country. They can then outsource to multiple factories across several different countries. The materials of the rubber compound can come from a large list of countries.

All tyres are made in a factory and involve a long list of processes. These processes include but are not limited to, Ply, Beads, Belt, Sidewall, Tread, Storing and Packing.

Distribution and transportation costs can be cut in half if the tyre dealership orders direct from and overseas manufacture. However, if a smaller dealership does not want to order in large quantities or does not have space or a warehouse, they may order from a distribution center in Australia. This means shorter wait times and usually the same day or next day delivery.

So, your next question may be, where do tyres end up?

Where do Tyres End Up?

Where do tyres end up? Waste management and recycling are handled differently in every country. Australia is advanced in looking towards the future to proficiently recycle tyres. Policies are now being implemented to manage waste and recycling organizations are becoming more prominent. However, our tyre waste is significant.

Each year in Australia, the equivalent of 48 million tyres reach the end of their life, only 16% of these are domestically recycled. Around two-thirds of used tyres in Australia end up in landfills, are stockpiled, illegally dumped, or have an unknown fate. This represents both a waste of resources and creates health and environmental issues. Each passenger car tyre contains approximately 1.5kg of steel, 0.5kg of textiles and 7 kg of rubber. (Hyder Consulting, 2009)

There are a handful of organizations that reuse and recycle old tyres. However, the demand of scrap tyres cannot keep up with the availability of recycling centers and alternative waste management systems.

End of life passenger and truck tyres are a significant burden on the environment. Hence why most tyres end up as landfill in Australia. If they are exported to another country or be shredded for road construction, they still hold environmental concerns.

At Bud’s Tyres we do not turn a blind eye to the fate of our waste. We look to educate ourselves on the systems in place for tyre waste and recycling management in Australia. Our second-hand tyre shop is our way of making a small contribution. Thus, we outsource to a recycling company to pick up our scrap tyres so they do not go to waste.

Recycle Tyres at Home

Reuse and recycle old tyres to give them a second life. If environmental waste and landfill is a concern for you or if the tip is simply out of the way you may want to look at alternative ways to recycle tyres at home. This could be anything from an old bike tyre to the damaged tyre from a roadside tyre change.

Bring into Bud’s Tyres

You may be removing tyres from an unwanted vehicle or find yourself with the wrong size and have nowhere to store the tyre/s. If the tread depth is above regulation, we can find a new home for it. Send us a photo so we can inspect the quality and drop it to us if you are in the area.

Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree

There are several reasons why people on the Gold Coast may be looking for used tyres. You can put a free ad up and get your unwanted tyres removed for free. You may even find some users will offer you cash if they are near-new.

Get Crafty!

Tyre recycle projects can add something unique and practical to your home. An old tyre can be perfect as a pet bed. This will be the most durable pet bed you have ever owned and can easily be cleaned. You can cut into the sidewall, decorate, and add a comfy cushion. If you have a large truck tyre why not make it into a pool? You can either cement the base or add a tarp and paint the rubber. This could also make a great pet bath. You could even make a fire pit or garden steps with remaining tyres.

Finding a second purpose for an old tyre can be a great and kid-friendly activity. Tyre Swingsare a tradition in the family home. Follow this guide on how to make a safe swing. A budget effective way to keep your kids entertained is a backyard sandbox. A larger tyre paired with a tarp can act as a great base for holding sand.

Check out this video on tyre recycling.

Sustainability and the Tyre Industry

At Bud’s Tyres, we are future driven. While ideals of sustainability and a circular economy are at the forefront of our business, we cannot call ourselves sustainable. It is near impossible to pair the word sustainability with the tyre industry. However, we do think of ourselves as responsible. The collective impact of the tyre industry on the environment is not viable or balanced. Yet tyres do not appear to be a thing of the past anytime soon. So, what are we doing to be responsible? What sustainable business strategies can we implement? What is being done in terms of responsible design and sustainability in the tyre industry today?

Bud’s Tyres

There are several reasons why we encourage you to shop locally. If you are traveling in a private vehicle you should be shopping locally. Long-distance travel is a burden on the climate will result in unwarranted CO2 emissions. We keep prices low at Bud’s Tyres so our surrounding suburbs (Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Varsity Lakes, Reedy Creek, Miami, Palm Beach, and Robina) do not have to travel to find the best price.

We print our receipts on eco-friendly paper and will only print an invoice if you request one.

Our collection of our second-hand tyres is what makes us unique. While most tyre retailers will throw out their tyres, we keep our near-new second-hand tyres to resell to you. This existing solution reduces our environmental impact while offering customers a cheaper option.

We strive to be the most responsible version of ourselves daily and reduce the harm our business has on the environment. Our 2020 goals include complete business transparency and decoding our supply chain so we can make informed choices for the future.

Beyond Bud’s Tyres

There is no viable alternative to cars in the foreseeable future. This means tyres are here to stay. Currently, there are limited options in tyre waste. However, the investigative use of responsible materials in the industry today is attempting to counteract this.

Circularity informed production processes, system innovation and overall sustainable design are identifiable in the future. We would love to be able to offer you a sustainable tyre in the future.