Cutting used tires for disposal

Hey all,

So...here in Missouri, to dispose of a used tire you have two options:
Take it to a "permited tire processor" (of which there are none, open to the public, in my area).
Cut it (quarter it or cut it circumferentially "like a bagel") before legally putting it in the landfill.

Tire shops take used tires, but they only have to take in as many as they sell. If I'm not buying a tire from them, they don't have to take my used tire (even if I pay). Sure...they generally will...but that's not the point of this thread.

The point of this thread is to find what is the best way to cut a used tire that you have found. Been there, done that experience is what I'm looking for.

There are mega-expensive tire cutters for processing used tires on a large scale...but I'm looking for something for a guy to cut, say, a tire ro four per week on a shoestring budget without wearing me out.

What have you used? Sawsall, bandsaw, electric/air shears, shotgun?

I could cut it with a cutoff wheel, but that sounds like work...not to mention all the smoke.
A sawsall would probably do the trick. But will I want to bang my head against the wall as a result?
How about a pair of electric shears or nibblers or such?

I'm not opposed to spending some money...but I can't justify an industrial machine.

Thanks!
Clem

have you checked with wally world? I had them dismount a set of aluminum rims and they took the tires for me after charging like $7 for all four.

And I did my usual joke about tossing them into a creek somewhere if they didn't take the rims.

Throw them in this guy's pond:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/fish-reefs/61531/page1/

Datsun310Guy wrote: have you checked with wally world?

No...and I don't care to.

I don't want to know how to pay someone else to take care of the problem (rather...I already know that's an option). I want to discuss how people are taking care of it themselves.

Maybe it would help if I mention that the reason I'm looking into disposing tires is because I may soon have my own tire mounting machine.

Thanks,
Clem

I am guessing a circular saw with a metal cutting blade would make short work of a tyre

I have used a sawzall and bolt cutters. Bolt cutters through the bead and sidewall. Then sawzall to remove the tread from the sidewall. It will shake you about the same as this thing.

<img src="" /> .

I've done it with virtually every variation of home variety power tool available. It aint pretty, no matter what you do.

The tools that will cut the belts will have a tough time with the rubber (smoke, gumming, etc). The tools that will cut the rubber can't handle the belts.

Best (fastest) I know is quartering it with a vertical band saw with a metal blade. But you are gonna have to dedicate the saw to this task. The blade will always be too dull to cut anything nicely, and the wheels will get really gummed up.

Maybe you could modify a horizontal bandsaw? (build a table/ rack that enabled holding the tire). Wouldn't matter if it was a bit worn. I've got one I'll sell if you are looking for one.

mad_machine wrote: I am guessing a circular saw with a metal cutting blade would make short work of a tyre

Not too good.

The blade housing will rapidly get gummed with hot rubber, then catch fire.

Ask me how I know.

I've used a sawzall before as that was the best tool I had, it was ok. You could end up looking like a monkey berkeleying a football if you were sawzallin' tires into way smaller pieces tho.

I had a set of four old tires that turned into stones. Despite good tread I didn't want them being reused for safety reasons. Drilled a hole in each sidewall w/ hole saw. Local station I routinely deal with took them in for recycling at $1/ ea.

The typical recycling fee at most tire shops around here is $2/ tire. The county sponsors a recycling day for hard to recycle items, they'll take a dump truck full of tires if you got 'em, at $2 ea that is. YMMV

Edit: just read about the tire machine reason. So, nevermind

If you're going to be dismounting/mounting for others, let them deal with disposal?

I've cut some skidder tires up with a chainsaw. It worked. The bar was salvageable/reuseable, but the chain certainly wasn't. I think it would last well enough to do a few tires. It was a long time ago, but I don't remember much smoke. Perhaps have a (not too bright) neighbor kid hold a hose on it as you cut to control heat?

Maybe rig a log splitter or industrial hydraulic ram w/ a knife blade

pilotbraden wrote: I have used a sawzall and bolt cutters. Bolt cutters through the bead and sidewall. Then sawzall to remove the tread from the sidewall. It will shake you about the same as this thing. <img src="" /> .

Yeah...a sawzall usually works me over about like the machine in this photo above. but I don't look that happy while doing it. I despise that wonderful, loathesome tool.

z31maniac wrote: If you're going to be dismounting/mounting for others...

Nope.

See...the thing is, I use tires too.

SVreX wrote: Maybe you could modify a horizontal bandsaw? (build a table/ rack that enabled holding the tire). Wouldn't matter if it was a bit worn. I've got one I'll sell if you are looking for one.

This is one thought that crossed my mind. I'm incredibly interested in owning a bandsaw. I'm not too keen on owning a bandsaw that I'll quickly render useless for anything other than junk tires.

But...if that turns out to be the best/lowest cost method...

Mezzanine wrote: I've cut some skidder tires up with a chainsaw. It worked. The bar was salvageable/reuseable, but the chain certainly wasn't. I think it would last well enough to do a few tires. It was a long time ago, but I don't remember much smoke. Perhaps have a (not too bright) neighbor kid hold a hose on it as you cut to control heat?

I'll bet they didn't have steel belts in them.

I'm no fan of this idea, because I wouldn't want to locate the steel belts at the same microsecond I found shrapnel flying all around the room and through every soft fleshy thing in it's path.

ClemSparks wrote:

z31maniac wrote: If you're going to be dismounting/mounting for others...

Nope. See...the thing is, I use tires too.

I understand, but when I saw as much as 4 per week........well I assumed incorrectly.

z31maniac wrote:

ClemSparks wrote:

z31maniac wrote: If you're going to be dismounting/mounting for others...

Nope. See...the thing is, I use tires too.

I understand, but when I saw as much as 4 per week........well I assumed incorrectly.

Hahaha! I was just throwing out a number. If I did tires for others, I'd certainly make them cary them away (but that begs the question, "What are those schmucks going to do with the tires?" I, for one, don't want them breeding mosquitos and/or in a ditch). And if I find no problem with paying a tire shop to accept them, I'll do that until I wear out my welcome.

Just trying to do the right thing. Curious what the best tool for the job might be.

Thanks,
Clem

Gas powered quickie saw with a 14" fiber blade works well for me. Bought the saw used for $200.00.

fasted58 wrote: Maybe rig a log splitter or industrial hydraulic ram w/ a knife blade

That's pretty much what we use at work. The one we have is a much more scary, primitive version of this.

I spose you could GRM fab something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HooBh1Sg5A

I worked in a hydraulic hose shop and they bought special blades to cut through the rubber and wire reinforcement - I miss the days of a guy smoking out the shop cutting a 4-wire high pressure hydraulic hose. Smells like victory.....

ClemSparks wrote: Take it to a "permited tire processor" (of which there are none, open to the public, in my area).

This all sounds like such a sticky wicket that I find myself wondering at what point it makes sense to find out what it takes to stop being a member of the public, assuming the above means there is one in your area that just won't deal with the general public... I mean, is there a place that takes them from the tire shops with whom you could get registered as a very small tire shop?

Or at what point it makes sense to find out where the nearest one that will deal with the public is and work out how to batch trips there?

Maybe someone will have a Better Way, but all these options would have me looking very hard at how to have the tires taken care of by someone properly equipped to do so.

EDIT: I can't post something so distinctly not what you asked without apologizing for it, but it just looks like an ugly gig trying to cut those things up without the giant hydraulic shears...

i'm not sure why one would want to clog up a landfill with tire chunks when tires you pay a small fee to dispose of get munched up and recycled.

i have yet to find any good way other than knife the sidewall all the way around and bolt cutters on the bead.

ransom wrote:

ClemSparks wrote: Take it to a "permited tire processor" (of which there are none, open to the public, in my area).

This all sounds like such a sticky wicket that I find myself wondering at what point it makes sense to find out what it takes to stop being a member of the public, assuming the above means there is one in your area that just won't deal with the general public... I mean, is there a place that takes them from the tire shops with whom you could get registered as a very small tire shop? Or at what point it makes sense to find out where the nearest one that *will* deal with the public is and work out how to batch trips there? Maybe someone will have a Better Way, but all these options would have me looking very hard at how to have the tires taken care of by someone properly equipped to do so. EDIT: I can't post something so distinctly not what you asked without apologizing for it, but it just looks like an ugly gig trying to cut those things up without the giant hydraulic shears...

That's funny. I had a COMPLETELY different attitude about the same thing.

My take is, if there are no "permitted tire processors" in your area, what would it take to not only become one, but earn ALL the recycling business of ALL the tire stores in your area?

Looks like a business opportunity to me.

Customers PAY a fee to haul them. Junkyards pay BIG cleanup fees. Then process the tires into raw materials for any number of other things, and SELL it to a manufacturer. Meanwhile, look into green credits, emission tax credits, etc. etc.

Hot melt asphalt... crumb rubber modifier...recycled asphalt pavement...aggregate in portland cement concrete...recycled into other tires... grind up and use as bark mulch...weeds prevention...concrete binder/ filler for green buildings...fuel gas...oils...pyrolysis processing...carbon black...activated carbon...etc. etc.

I'd be looking for opportunities, instead of measuring it as an expense.