Canada generates over 30 million waste tires annually. Provincial regulations in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec require responsible tire disposal and recycling. A quality tire shredder is the foundation of any tire recycling operation — it determines your throughput, output quality, operating cost, and long-term profitability.
Whether you are starting a new tire recycling business or upgrading an existing line, choosing the right shredder is the most important equipment decision you will make.
Before selecting a shredder, answer these questions:
- What tire types will you process? Passenger car tires (PCR), truck tires (TBR), or off-the-road (OTR) mining and construction tires? - What is your target throughput? 2 TPH for a small operation, or 20+ TPH for an industrial-scale plant? - What output size do you need? Rough shreds (300mm) for landfill alternative fuel (TDF), or fine crumb rubber (1-5mm) for playground surfaces and rubber mats?
OTR tires up to 2000mm diameter require a heavy-duty double-shaft shredder with high torque. Passenger tires can be processed by smaller single-shaft or double-shaft machines.
Double-Shaft Shredders are the industry standard for primary tire shredding. Two counter-rotating shafts grab and tear whole tires without pre-cutting. They handle steel-belted, radial, and bias-ply tires up to 2000mm. Recommended for 3-40 TPH operations.
Single-Shaft Shredders work well as secondary shredders for pre-cut tire pieces. The hydraulic pusher feeds material against a fixed rotor with a sizing screen. Output size is more uniform than double-shaft. Recommended for 2-30 TPH when processing pre-shredded tire chips.
Four-Shaft Shredders are used for fine secondary shredding of rubber chips into smaller granules. Precision edge control within 0.003mm produces consistent output. Recommended for 1-15 TPH when producing crumb rubber.
Complete Shredding Lines combine a primary double-shaft shredder, secondary shredder, magnetic separator (for steel wire removal), screening equipment, and conveyors into a turnkey system. Recommended for operations targeting finished crumb rubber or clean TDF output.
When comparing tire shredders, focus on these specifications:
- Shaft torque (Nm): Higher torque means the machine can handle tougher tires without stalling. Look for at least 80,000 Nm per shaft for OTR tires. - Motor power (kW): Directly affects throughput. Double-shaft tire shredders typically range from 2x30 kW to 2x160 kW. - Cutting chamber width (mm): Determines the maximum tire diameter you can feed. 800mm for passenger tires, 1600-2000mm for OTR. - Blade material: D2 or equivalent tool steel with HRC 58-62 hardness for long life on steel-belted tires. - Auto-reverse: Essential for tire shredding. PLC-controlled auto-reverse prevents jams when steel belts wrap around cutters.
A basic double-shaft tire shredder starts at approximately $25,000 USD. A complete tire-to-crumb-rubber line ranges from $80,000 to $250,000+ depending on throughput and output requirements.
Revenue sources from tire recycling include: - Tire Derived Fuel (TDF) sold to cement kilns: $20-40 per ton - Crumb rubber for surfaces and mats: $200-600 per ton - Recovered steel wire: $100-200 per ton - Provincial tire recycling fees and incentives
Most tire recycling operations in Canada achieve payback within 18-36 months depending on scale and output product.
For small operations (2-10 TPH): DS-800 double-shaft shredder with 2x30 kW motors. Handles passenger and light truck tires. Starting price around $25,000 USD.
For medium operations (8-20 TPH): DS-1200 double-shaft shredder with 2x75 kW motors. Handles all tire types up to 1200mm. Ideal for TDF production.
For large operations (15-40 TPH): DS-1600 double-shaft shredder with 2x160 kW motors. Processes OTR tires up to 2000mm. Built for 24/7 industrial operation.
For complete crumb rubber production: SL-25 shredding line with primary shredder, granulator, magnetic separator, and screening system. 10-25 TPH of finished crumb rubber.
Every tire recycling project is different. Tell us your tire types, target throughput, and desired output — we will configure the right shredder or complete line for your operation. Contact our engineering team at sales@starglow-shredder.com or fill out the quote form on our website.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Max Tire Size | Motor Power | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS-800 | Double-shaft | 3-10 TPH | 800 mm (passenger) | 2x30 kW | $25,000 |
| DS-1200 | Double-shaft | 8-20 TPH | 1200 mm (truck) | 2x75 kW | $45,000 |
| DS-1600 | Double-shaft | 15-40 TPH | 2000 mm (OTR) | 2x160 kW | $85,000 |
| SL-25 | Complete line | 10-25 TPH crumb | Custom | System | $120,000+ |