Researchers at Michigan Technological University are continuing efforts to expand the use of recycled tire materials in road construction as part of broader initiatives focused on sustainable infrastructure and tire recycling.

Zhanping You, director of the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute, said current work is focused on refining specifications and developing additional applications for rubber-modified asphalt technologies across the state of Michigan.

The research program has previously tested asphalt mixtures incorporating recycled tires, glass, and fiber materials in Dickinson County as part of ongoing pavement development projects.

Statewide specifications under development

According to You, one of the next major objectives is to finalize standard specifications that could be used by county road commissions throughout Michigan.

The goal is to establish guidelines that would allow all 83 counties in the state to use rubberized asphalt technologies under consistent technical standards.

Researchers are also working to further refine asphalt mix designs and evaluate different approaches for incorporating larger amounts of recycled rubber into pavement systems.

Potential future applications include high-content rubber asphalt mixtures and rubber asphalt chip seal technologies designed for lower-cost pavement maintenance programs.

Growing interest in rubberized asphalt

Rubberized asphalt is one of the most established end markets for recycled tire materials and forms an important part of the broader tire recycling sector.

Processed tire rubber, often produced as crumb rubber, can be incorporated into asphalt mixtures to improve flexibility, crack resistance, durability, and road noise reduction.

Researchers and transportation agencies continue evaluating how different formulations perform under varying traffic loads, climate conditions, and maintenance requirements.

Efforts to increase recycled rubber content in asphalt are also tied to wider sustainability and circular economy goals aimed at reducing landfill disposal of end-of-life tires.

Addressing scrap tire management challenges

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy spokesperson Jeff Johnston said managing scrap tires remains an important environmental issue.

Officials noted that improperly stored or abandoned tires can create fire hazards, generate polluted runoff, and serve as mosquito breeding grounds.

Millions of scrap tires are generated annually in the United States, creating ongoing demand for sustainable recycling and material recovery solutions.

Alongside rubberized asphalt, recycled tire materials are also used in applications including artificial turf infill, molded rubber products, playground surfaces, and advanced recycling technologies such as pyrolysis.

As research into rubber recycling technologies continues, transportation infrastructure remains one of the largest potential long-term markets for recycled tire materials.

To read more, see the original article at TV6 – Upper Michigan Source.