Self-sealing tires - in technical jargon also called seal tires called – offer a great advantage. You are almost completely protected against tire bursts and punctures. The reason for this is a gel-like protective layer made of polymer that is located on the inside of the tread. In the event of sudden punctures of up to 5 mm in diameter (such as from a nail), this layer immediately closes the resulting gap and thus prevents a drop in filling pressure. In the best case scenario, the driver will not notice this process at all and the tire can continue to be used without any concerns.
However, the whole thing has one disadvantage: Due to the polymer layer, which consists of unvulcanized rubber, plasticizers and other substances, The seal tires cannot fit together with normal tires be recycled. Granulation is also out of the question thanks to the special protective layer. The viscous layer would stick and smear the tools and the rubber powder. An alternative is to use Seal tires for energy recovery. However, only around 20 percent of the energy contained can be used. In addition, this procedure is not permitted in all countries.
How should Seal tires be disposed of?
Tire dealers, car repair shops and car dealerships that collect Seal tires should speak specifically to their tire disposal partner. The certified partners know special recyclers who can also process Seal tires.
