[Villages Kahuna]

With all the tire stores around here, they have to be selling a lot of tires. It's safe to assume, I think, that people only buy new tires when their old ones are worn down or worn out.

That being the case, did you ever wonder where all the rubber that wore off all those old tires goes? Geez, that's a LOT of rubber. Where does it go anyway?

My kids would tell me that if I'm pondering questions like this one that I have WAAY too much time on my hands.

[DougB]

About 300 million tires are scrapped each year. About 80% of that is recycled and reused. Much in asphalt and playgrounds.

[njbchbum]

rubber from my tires gets left on I-95 driving the entire east coast! but when the car might need tires - my husband would rather go out and buy a new car!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

VK...........here ya go!

Road Rubber - Science Updates - Science NetLinks

Bill

[BobnBev]

There is a place in Hamden, CT, called the "Tire Pond".
It is a huge hole where over a million tires have been dumped, then covered over with dirt. Before they covered it, it was a misqueito (spelling, I know) breeding ground. The EPA got involved and sued the owner, a former state rep.
Huge fine, and I think he declared bankruptcy, not sure. It was quite a story, back in the day.