Figure 1: Stylised supply chain for used tyres in New Zealand

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Used (end of life) tyres enter the supply chain when taken off cars, trucks, heavy machinery and other vehicles.

Tyres are generally removed by a tyre retailer, car wrecker, used car importer or at some similar auto service provider. Tyres taken from auto service provider may go through two or more stages

1. Collection and sorting: tyres may be collected and sorted by a "casing dealer", and then either retreaded or sent directly for final disposal,
2. Transformation: tyres may be sent by the collector for shredding or granulating
3. Storage/recovery: shredded tyres may be used for recycling into rubber mats and similar products, or sent to landfills for final disposal.

Alternatively, the tyres may pass from the auto service provider to farmers for use on silage pits, to other organizations for use on speedways, marinas and similar purposes. They may also be stored off site or illegally dumped.