Americans Bury Tyres Beneath Highways For Smooth Roads. Internet Asks ‘Won’t Chemicals Ooze Into Groundwater?’

Why would Americans bury old tires under their highways? The answer is more practical than it sounds. With millions of used tires piling up every year, the US needed a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. A video titled Turning Trash into Tarmac: How Old Tires Are Resurfacing as Roads explains how old tires are now being reused to build stronger, longer-lasting roads.

It is a smart method that not only reduces waste but also saves resources, something India could learn from, too.

Why Americans Use Old Tires Under Roads

The video begins with the narrator asking, “Why would Americans bury old tires under their highways? The reason is simple.” He explains that the US has struggled for years with how to handle used tires. They are made of rubber,

steel and chemicals, which means they can’t break down easily. Burning them is dangerous because it releases toxic fumes, and dumping them in landfills only creates piles that stay there for decades.

To solve this, engineers came up with a new approach. Instead of throwing the tires away, they pack them tightly into the base of the road. The empty spaces are filled with gravel, and the top is covered with asphalt. What looks like a normal stretch of highway is actually built on thousands of old tires.

The narrator goes on to explain why this method works so well. The first benefit is the huge reduction in materials. Using tires cuts the need for fresh construction supplies almost in half. The second benefit is strength; tires are naturally tough and springy, so they absorb impact from cars and help the road last longer. Some of these roads can stay in good condition for nearly twice the life of regular ones. And most importantly, millions of waste tires get reused instead of being dumped.

“So the next time you are cruising down a smooth American highway,” the narrator says, “you might never guess that beneath your wheels lies a foundation built from thousands upon thousands of old tires.”

How Old Tires Find a Second Life

The caption of the clip adds more detail. It says that the US produces over 250 million scrap tires every year. Instead of sending all of them to landfills, many are shredded into tiny pieces called crumb rubber. This is then mixed with asphalt to make rubberised asphalt.

In addition, the caption lists the benefits of this mix: It reduces road noise, it makes roads stronger, and it cuts long-term maintenance costs.

The post also notes that states such as California, Arizona and Florida are already using this method for highways, parking lots and even playgrounds. It highlights how this approach supports the idea of circular use, old materials being reused instead of being wasted. “When old rubber meets hot asphalt,” it reads, “it’s not just a road, it’s a quiet echo of yesterday’s global trade in tires, oil, and raw materials.”

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Online Reactions To The Clip

Shared on November 22, the video has crossed 7 lakh views and has gathered many comments. A user wrote, “Great for aquifers.” Another said, “In Australia, we shred it then add it to our asphalt.”

Someone else wondered, “Hmm, but won’t chemicals Ouse into the groundwater with time? Isn’t it better to shred them into little pieces and make new tires?”

Another person shared, “You can recycle them. I have got an underlay made of recycled tires.” A user claimed, “They stole the idea from Africa.” Many others simply called it a “good idea” and a “great idea.”