Scrap Tyre Grading: Understanding Quality Categories for Resale

Updated on: 3rd March 2026 By:

Why Tyre Grading Matters to the Recycling Chain

A used tyre arriving at a recycling facility or tyre dealer is not simply a worn-out piece of rubber. It is a complex engineered product whose residual value, and whose appropriate next destination, depends on its specific condition. Two tyres that appear similar on casual inspection may have very different commercial values: one may be a sound retreading candidate worth significantly more per tyre than disposal value; the other may be structurally compromised and suitable only for shredding or baling.

Tyre grading is the systematic assessment of used tyre condition that determines which of these categories a specific tyre falls into. Grading is not optional in a commercially efficient tyre recycling operation: without it, valuable retreading candidates are mixed with shredding-grade tyres and the revenue from retreading quality is lost. With it, each tyre is directed to its highest-value destination, maximising revenue and processing efficiency across the entire tyre stream.

Understanding tyre grading matters for tyre recyclers who need to sort incoming material, for tyre retailers who want to understand the commercial value of the tyres they accumulate, for fleet operators who manage truck tyre replacement and want to maximise retreading revenue, and for businesses considering the on-site processing decision (whether to grade and sell premium grades separately before baling or shredding the remainder).

Gradeall International manufactures tyre processing equipment for all grades of used tyre. The MKII tyre baler processes baling-grade car tyres into PAS 108 civil engineering bales; the truck tyre sidewall cutter and OTR tyre sidewall cutter prepare non-retreading truck and OTR tyres for shredding. Understanding which tyres should go to which equipment is the operational implementation of the grading decision. With nearly 40 years of manufacturing experience and equipment in over 100 countries, Gradeall supports tyre processors at every quality level of the used tyre stream.

Grade One: Part-Worn Tyres for Resale

The highest commercial value category for a used tyre is the part-worn resale grade: a tyre with sufficient tread depth remaining, sound structural condition, and no significant damage that can be legally sold and fitted to another vehicle.

Legal requirements for part-worn tyre resale. In the UK, the sale of part-worn tyres is regulated under the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994. Legal requirements for part-worn tyres include: original grooves must be visible across the full breadth of the tread and around the full circumference; no ply or cords exposed; no bead damage; no penetrations; all original tread grooves must be clearly visible; and the tyre must be permanently and legibly marked with the word “PART-WORN” in letters at least four millimetres high before sale.

The minimum legal tread depth for a tyre in use on UK roads is 1.6mm; however, trading standards authorities have prosecuted sellers of tyres that meet this technical minimum but are in unsafe overall condition. The Trading Standards Institute and tyre industry bodies recommend that part-worn tyres should have at least 2mm of remaining tread and should be free from any significant damage.

Inspection procedure for part-worn grading. Inspection of a tyre for part-worn grading involves: visual and physical inspection of the tread depth at multiple points across the tyre width and around its circumference; visual inspection of both sidewalls for cuts, bulges, abrasions, and evidence of run-flat damage; bead inspection for deformation or damage; and in a thorough inspection, internal inspection of the tyre using a beam inspection light to check for internal structural damage not visible from outside.

Commercial value. Part-worn car tyres in good condition with adequate tread sell through used tyre dealers and online marketplaces. The commercial value per tyre varies widely with brand, size, tread depth, and condition, from a few pounds for generic budget tyres to significantly more for premium brand tyres in good condition on popular size fitments.

Grade Two: Retreading-Quality Casings

The second quality grade, primarily relevant for truck and bus tyres, is the retreading-quality casing. A casing that is structurally sound, has been operated within its load and speed ratings, and has been removed from the vehicle in time to preserve the casing integrity is a retreading candidate.

Assessment criteria for retreading quality. The detailed assessment of a casing for retreading is carried out by approved retreaders using specialist equipment including shearography (laser holographic inspection that reveals internal delaminations and air pockets not visible to the naked eye) and X-ray inspection for steel-reinforced tyres. The criteria assessed include:

Crown integrity: no belt separations, delaminations, or puncture damage in the crown area. Casing punctures that have been repaired in service are assessed individually for retreading suitability depending on location and size. Sidewall condition: no significant sidewall damage, no run-flat damage (which compresses and damages the sidewall and inner liner), no bead damage. Inner liner condition: the inner liner must be intact with no major cracking or perishing that would prevent an airtight tyre being produced from the retreaded casing.

Commercial value. Sound retreading-quality truck tyre casings have commercial value significantly above the crumb rubber value of the same tyre. The exact price depends on tyre size, brand, and the retreader’s assessment of casing quality and predicted service life. Fleet operators with structured tyre management programmes actively track their retreading yield and negotiate casing prices with retreaders.

Maximising retreading yield. The practices that maximise the proportion of truck tyres that qualify as retreading-quality casings are: regular tyre pressure checking (underinflation is the primary cause of casing damage that disqualifies retreading); early replacement of damaged tyres before damage propagates to the casing; avoidance of overloading; and prompt removal of tyres on schedule rather than running to complete failure.

Grade Three: PAS 108 Baling Grade

For passenger car and light van tyres that don’t meet the part-worn sale criteria (insufficient tread, minor damage, specific cosmetic issues that prevent sale as part-worn), the PAS 108 baling grade is the next highest value category.

Baling-grade criteria for car tyres are less stringent than part-worn sale criteria because the tyre’s road performance characteristics are irrelevant; what matters for baling is that the tyre is structurally whole enough to contribute to bale density and structural performance.

Criteria for baling grade. Whole tyre (not cut or structurally fragmented). No rim attached (rims must be removed before baling). No significant chemical contamination. Standard wear and cosmetic damage is acceptable; structural damage that would create loose rubber fragments within the bale is less desirable but typically not disqualifying for most baling applications.

Commercial value. Baling-grade car tyres have commercial value through the PAS 108 bale they contribute to. The per-tyre value embedded in a PAS 108 bale is lower than a part-worn sale value but positive, derived from the bale sale price to civil engineering contractors.

Grade Four: Shredding Grade

Tyres that do not qualify for part-worn resale, retreading, or clean baling go to shredding. This grade includes: structurally damaged car tyres unsuitable for baling; all truck and OTR tyres not meeting retreading quality criteria; agricultural tyres; and any mixed or contaminated tyre material.

Shredding-grade tyres still have commercial value through the crumb rubber, steel, and TDF routes they produce. The gate fee structure for shredding-grade material reflects the processing cost of converting this material into saleable outputs; some shredding-grade tyres are accepted at low or zero gate fees because the processing economics are tight.

Grade Five: Non-Standard and Specialist Processing Grade

OTR tyres, large agricultural tyres, and tyres with unusual dimensions that require specialist equipment form a distinct category that requires appropriate processing equipment rather than standard car tyre processing equipment.

Gradeall’s OTR tyre sidewall cutter, OTR tyre splitter, and agricultural tyre shear are specifically designed for these formats. Processing OTR tyres without appropriate equipment is inefficient and potentially hazardous; the scale and construction of these tyres requires purpose-built cutting and handling capability.

Implementing a Grading System at Your Facility

An effective tyre grading system at a recycling or collection facility requires:

Clear sorting criteria for each grade, written down and communicated to all sorting staff. A physical sorting area with space for tyres to be assessed individually and directed to the appropriate bay or container for each grade. Regular calibration of grading standards by supervisory staff, including spot checks of sort decisions to ensure consistency. Documentation of incoming tyre volumes by grade to support commercial negotiations with buyers and processors for each grade stream.

“The grading decision at intake is where the revenue is determined,” says Conor Murphy, Director of Gradeall International. “A facility that doesn’t grade is leaving retreading value in the shredding bin and baling value in the general disposal stream. The equipment investment to process each grade correctly is only as valuable as the grading that routes the right tyre to the right equipment.”

Contact Gradeall International for tyre processing equipment appropriate for each grade of used tyre, from the MKII baler for baling-grade car tyres to OTR and truck tyre processing equipment for specialist grades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a formal UK standard for tyre grading?

There is no single formal UK standard that comprehensively defines grades for all used tyre types. Part-worn tyre sale standards are defined in the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994. Retreading quality standards are defined by ECE Regulations 108 and 109. PAS 108 defines the tyre bale specification but not a formal pre-baling tyre grade. In practice, grading criteria are applied by individual businesses based on their market requirements and buyer specifications.

How do I train staff to grade tyres consistently?

Tyre grading training combines visual instruction (showing examples of each grade category with photographs and physical examples), hands-on practice with supervisor review, and regular calibration sessions where grading decisions are checked against agreed standards. The Tyre Recovery Association and tyre industry training bodies offer training resources. For retreading quality assessment, specialist retreader training is needed beyond basic visual grading.

Does tyre grading affect my duty of care documentation?

The duty of care waste transfer note must accurately describe the waste being transferred, including the type and condition of tyres. Transfers of part-worn tyres for resale may not be waste transfers at all if the tyres genuinely meet the criteria for a second-hand product rather than waste. Transfers of shredding-grade or baling-grade tyres for processing are waste transfers requiring proper documentation. Confirm the classification of your specific tyre transfers with the relevant environmental regulator if uncertain.