Rubber Tires – Bouncing Out Of Our Landfills & Into Many Creative Uses!

If you drive anything that has a couple of wheels on it, perhaps it’s safe to say that you’re rather fond of rubber, whether you realize it or not. Rubber should actually be in our good graces since it helps us to grip the pavement in all sorts of weather conditions, super hairy ones included. The majority of us probably owe our safety to the reinforced carbon black natural rubber tires that adorn our vehicles, and yet at the end of their useful life, what do any of us do to recycle them? After switching them out for new ones, we generally pay a “disposal fee” and hope for the best. Back in the 80s, this philosophy was apparently not a wise one for environmentally concerned consumers since the US recycled just 10% of the tires that were turned in. That figure has grown to over 80% today, which seems like an impressive achievement, but the remaining 19% that are not recycled – equivalent to 55 million tires – are discarded like litter along the landscape of our country or just disposed of in landfills.

All told, approximately 290 million automobile and truck used tires are discarded by Americans every year, but aren’t you the slightest bit curious what all of that rubber can be turned into? Some sources claim that as many as 16.5 million used tires are resurrected as retreads, but once they’ve had their second wind, they must be retired permanently. The vast majority of old tires are used as fuel, while others are ground up and recycled into commercial and residential flooring, rubber mulch, rubber-modified asphalt for roads and athletic tracks, sports mats, used for civil engineering projects, rubber lumber, stall mats for horses, roof pads, shower tiles, and truck bed mats. While that’s a fairly impressive list of applications, more companies are recognizing the advantage of using reclaimed rubber in the fashion industry. Simple Shoes has been rocking their recycled rubber sole for years and now Timberland plans to follow suit by launching two new footwear lines this autumn – Earthkeepers and Timberland Mountain Athletics. South African produced Plakkies sandals are also embracing the rubber sole trend while English Retreads turns truck tire inner tubes into really eye-catching handbags.  

Of course, where would we be without artists, who always manage to delve into unchartered waters and turn what we would normally see as junk into items that are museum worthy? Mexico City-based artist Betsabeé Romero has made an entire career out of transforming the modern detritus of her country – including a large volume of roadside waste – into rather beautiful objets d’art. While she has worked extensively on beautifying car parts in the past, her most recent focus has been on revamping humble rubber tires.

I bet you’ve never seen anything quite like this before – massive hand carved rubber tire stamps that, when rolled into paint, leave pre-Columbian patterns in their wake.

This group of five rubber tires (below) – known as Lot 174 or "Llantas" – was created in 2001. The collection of tires – which were valued at $12,000 to $18,000 -- finally sold for $42,000.

There 10 rubber tires in Lot 57 – known as "Requieum for the Unknown Pedestrian." Carved in 2002, it was valued at $15,000 to $20,000 and finally sold for $14,340.

This coiled tire piece, called "Lagrimas Negras,” was on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO) in Monterrey, northern Mexico (as of May 14, 2009).

Would you agree that Romero has done something interesting and even constructive with tires that would have likely ended up getting incinerated?

Do you think that her pieces will stand the test of time?