Tyre Size and Weight Comparison
Physical dimensions (diameter and width in inches) and weight ranges for the three main tyre classes — passenger car, truck, and OTR (Off-The-Road) — used for shredder sizing, feedstock logistics planning, and storage calculations.
| Tyre Class | Diameter (inches) | Width (inches) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Car | 22–28 | 7–9 | 8–12 |
| Truck Tyre | 36–44 | 10–12 | 50–80 |
| OTR Tyre | 63–150+ | 20–60+ | 400–5,000+ |
Beyond definitions
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How to read this table
- Each row is one tyre class; columns show diameter, width, and weight ranges.
- Use weight per tyre for logistics planning (tyres per truckload) and shredder capacity matching.
- OTR tyres require specific heavy-duty equipment — do not attempt to process OTR tyres in a plant designed and sized only for passenger car or truck tyres.
About this table
Tyre physical dimensions directly determine the equipment specifications needed to process them. A shredder sized for passenger car tyres (8–12 kg) cannot handle truck tyres (50–80 kg) without significant performance degradation, and OTR tyres (400–5,000+ kg) require heavy industrial equipment that most standard tyre recycling plants are not equipped for. This three-row reference table provides diameter, width, and weight for each tyre class — the essential inputs for equipment selection and logistics planning.
Passenger car tyres have diameters of 22–28 inches and widths of 7–9 inches, weighing 8–12 kg each. At this weight, standard shredders designed for 1–5 TPH throughput can handle passenger car tyres without de-beading in most configurations — though removing the steel bead ring before shredding extends blade life and simplifies separation. For logistics, approximately 80–120 passenger car tyres fit per tonne of feedstock, and a 9-tonne truck can carry around 700–1,000 tyres — reasonably efficient transport density. Truck tyres have larger profiles (36–44 inch diameter, 10–12 inch width) and weigh 50–80 kg each. De-beading before shredding is mandatory for truck tyres — the heavy steel bead cords would destroy standard shredder blades rapidly without prior removal. At 50–80 kg per tyre, a 9-tonne truck carries only 110–180 tyres — significantly less efficient in terms of tyre count, though similar in mass to car tyre transport.
OTR tyres from mining trucks and earthmovers are in a completely different physical category — diameters of 63–150+ inches (some exceeding 4 metres), widths of 20–60+ inches, and weights ranging from 400 kg for the smallest to over 5,000 kg (5 tonnes) for the largest mining truck tyres. A single large OTR tyre weighs more than a typical car tyre shredder's full hourly capacity. Processing OTR tyres requires heavy-duty hydraulic shredders designed for that weight class — not typically present in small or medium tyre recycling plants. For plants near mining regions, OTR tyre access can be a premium feedstock opportunity; for others, it is a special-case requiring infrastructure investment.
Key insights
- Truck tyres (50–80 kg each) require mandatory de-beading before shredding — the heavy steel bead cords would rapidly damage shredder blades not designed for that load.
- OTR tyres weigh 400–5,000+ kg each — a single large mining truck tyre exceeds the hourly throughput capacity of most small plant shredders, making OTR processing a specialised operation.
- Passenger car tyres are the most logistics-friendly feedstock at 8–12 kg per tyre — high tyre count per truckload and processable by most standard tyre recycling shredders without special handling.
- The size difference between passenger car (22–28 inch) and OTR (63–150+ inch) tyres means equipment specified for one class cannot serve the other — feedstock mix assessment must precede equipment selection.
Methodology & sources
Dimension and weight ranges are based on standard tyre classification data and typical product ranges as of 2024. Actual dimensions and weights vary by tyre make, model, and load rating. OTR tyre weight range is particularly wide — confirm the specific OTR tyre types available in your target feedstock area before specifying equipment.
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