South Africa has a fast-growing problem in the form of used tyres, most of which are improperly disposed of and present a major threat to road users when fitted to a car.
The local tyre industry estimates that the second-hand market comprises roughly 1.5 to 2 million tyres, and that 63% of these are not roadworthy – translating to approximately 945,000 to 1.26 million illegal tyres.
Lubin Ozoux, CEO of tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), which distributes the Dunlop, Sumitomo, and Falken brands, explained that this issue has a detrimental impact on the entire value supply chain, both in terms of finances and reputation.
“As a tyre manufacturer and member of the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), we have a responsibility to ensure that the practice of selling unsafe, ill-suited, and illicit second-hand tyres to unsuspecting and uninformed customers is stopped,” he said.
“There needs to be a solid protocol for all tyre dealers to ensure that once second-hand waste tyres are correctly mutilated and have been assigned for waste pick up from their stores, they do not resurface in the market.”
Environmental concerns
One of the biggest issues regarding tyres is their environmental impact if they are not properly disposed of.
Tyres have a large physical volume and a very slow decomposition rate, meaning they can quickly lead to visual pollution and possible health risks as they accumulate in landfills or are illegally dumped.
In South Africa, tyres have also been known to be misused by protestors during riots, said Ozoux.
Manufacturers have voiced their concern regarding the lack of a comprehensive Tyre Waste Management Plan in the country, as the draft section 29 of the Integrated Industry Waste Management Plan for Tyres (IndWTMP) is still pending finalisation.
“It’s unclear if a plan is in place to address this critical environmental challenge,” said Shaun Radbone, the owner of Dunlop franchise Orion Auto & Tyres.
“There is a significant lack of transparency from the relevant authorities on whether these products are being transformed into new products or used as a source of energy.”
The lack of information from the relevant authorities hampers efforts to establish sustainable practices in the industry he said. Orion’s waste tyres are collected on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, but this is often disrupted by storage facility constraints.
One proposed solution for South Africa’s waste tyres is to follow the European model and produce rubber crumbs, which are used as an additive in tar roads.
“Recycling and proper disposal methods are crucial to minimise the adverse consequences of waste tyres,” said Radbone.
Safety concerns
Beyond the environmental concerns, there are obvious dangers to using defective tyres on your vehicle.
“If it’s a second-hand tyre that someone is looking to purchase, they must ask themselves, why is it second hand? Usually, it’s because the original owner had issues with the tyre, that’s why they changed it,” said Radbone.
Tyres bought at backyard dealers and non-franchised stores may also be inconsistent with industry standards. Additionally, it’s important to understand the difference between waste tyres, and part-worn tyres.
Waste tyres are officially categorised as new, used, retreaded, and unroadworthy tyres that are unsuitable for retreading, repair, or sale as part, according to Regulation 1 of the Waste Tyre Regulations of 2017.
Part-worn tyres, on the other hand, can safely be returned to use after being retread in accordance with the National Road Traffic Act of 1996.
“Ensuring that retreaded and part-worn tyres meet safety standards is vital for preventing accidents and maintaining roadworthiness,” said Radbone.
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