Tires wear out particularly quickly when driving at high speeds, on winding roads and mountain roads, and on concrete rather than asphalt road surfaces. Increased rubber abrasion is also caused by wet roads, high-torque engines, and heavy vehicles. Weight and high torque cause more rubber abrasion, especially in larger electric cars.

When purchasing and using car tires, it is advisable to pay attention to the following points:

Low-abrasion tires are more durable and therefore more cost-effective. For summer tires, pay attention to the UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) information on the sidewall of the tire. The number after the word "TREADWEAR" should not be less than 300 if possible—higher values are better. The abrasion rating is planned to be included in the EU tire label in the future. With the new Euro 7 emissions standard (from the end of 2026), in addition to brake abrasion, non-exhaust particles from tire abrasion ("non-exhaust particle emissions") will also be limited.

Low rolling resistance: The greater the rolling resistance, the higher the fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions when driving. The EU tire label provides a good guide here. A vehicle equipped with tires in the best category A can consume up to 7.5 percent less fuel compared to a vehicle equipped with tires in the worst category G.

Low-noise tires: There are significant differences in rolling noise between modern passenger car tires. Noise-optimized tires can therefore make an effective contribution to reducing road noise. Information on rolling noise can be found on the EU label.

Correct tire pressure: Tire pressure that is 0.5 bar too low increases fuel consumption by around five percent. Information from the manufacturer on the correct tire pressure can be found either on the inside of the fuel filler flap or in the door frame of the driver's door. Incorrect tire pressure also poses a safety risk and leads to premature tire wear.

Car journeys: Think about where you could cut out additional car journeys. Never drive with winter tires in summer, accelerate gently, and brake slowly. Check the axle alignment regularly, otherwise the tires will wear unevenly.

Proper disposal: Tires are made of a variety of materials, some of which are harmful to health and the environment. Disposing of them in household or bulky waste is therefore not permitted. The correct procedure is described under "Disposal of car tires" below.

Car tires are made from artificial raw materials such as synthetic rubber (from petroleum), industrially produced carbon black, various additives, natural rubber, and rapeseed oil. Due to existing quality requirements, recycled material is only used to a limited extent in the manufacture of new tires. Used tires are recycled in four ways:

Material recycling: In material recycling, suitable used tires are shredded into pieces measuring approximately five centimeters or less. The granulate serves as a valuable raw material for artificial turf, asphalt, sports fields, and sealing material. This method is becoming increasingly important. Around two-thirds of used tires are now recycled.

Thermal recycling: Around one-third of used tires are thermally recycled, i.e., incinerated, in pulp, power, and, above all, cement plants as so-called secondary fuel. Non-combustible components are used in cement production as components of cement clinker.

Retreading: No less than 26,000 tons of used tire material is used for the production of retreaded tires, primarily for commercial vehicles.

Export: Around 48,000 tons of used tires are exported to countries that have lower requirements for car tires.

Retreading tires saves up to 70 percent of material compared to manufacturing new tires. They can be used anywhere except for high-speed tires.

The disadvantage of natural rubber plantations is that they are susceptible to fungal diseases. The raw material is quite expensive and not environmentally friendly due to transportation from areas near the equator. Cheaper and sustainable alternatives are therefore in demand. "Taraxagum" is the first tire rubber made from the milky sap of dandelion hybrids. The project, which is being developed by a major tire manufacturer, is currently in the research stage. This is because the roots of the plants need to be grown thicker in order to have enough dandelion rubber for economical production. Nevertheless, a small series of bicycle tires is already available for purchase.

The recycling and disposal of the 600,000 tons of scrap tires generated annually throughout Germany poses a number of problems. Due to the various materials involved (rubber, steel, textile components, and environmentally hazardous substances), the recycling process is complex and can only be carried out by specialized companies. Since 2003, the landfilling of used tires has been prohibited by law in Germany. Depending on the source, the recycling rate for used tires, including exports, is between 95 and 100 percent in Germany. When used tires are exported, there is no guarantee that they will be disposed of properly in the recipient countries after use.

If disposed of incorrectly or illegally, used tires pose a potential hazard to humans and the environment due to the substances they contain. Illegal disposal can cost up to €1,000. You can hand in your old tires at tire dealers, car dealers, recycling centers, or directly to a certified used tire disposal company (see ZARE initiative). The collection points will then take care of the next steps in the disposal process.

Considering that people are happy to spend hundreds of euros on tires and rims, the fee charged for environmentally friendly recycling should be a matter of course. In Mainz, the fee at the two disposal centers is €2.50 for old tires and €7.00 for tires including rims.