How to cut steel belted tires?

Doughknob · Nov 2, 2021

Anyone have a good way to cut up steel belted tires?

I have tried many hand tools and hand held power tools but have found nothing up to the task of relatively smoothly slicing through the belts.

bcp · Nov 2, 2021

I cut some for disposal by cutting along the sidewall, just outside the tread, with a utility knife, then rolling up the tread. I cut the bead with a grinder on two sides. Two tires fit easily into a garbage can.

These had no steel in the sidewall, only in the tread.

Bruce

MAX-24-Dean · Nov 2, 2021

I used an Ideal tire groover with good results, grooved out the rubber down to the steel belts, then used a cut off wheel to cut the belts.

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JJT · Nov 3, 2021

Sawzall with a bimetal/demo blade works fine.

ROUSTABOUT · Nov 3, 2021

Big ole chop saw. Smelly but works. They burn good too. There are videos on how to cut them up with a home rigged contraptions. I have well over a thousand myself. I don't know how many you need to move. Had a fella call the other night wanting some to burn because they were having a funeral and it was kinda cool out. Boys, it's poor here in rural Arkansas. I've seen that same guy get a dead coon off the road and pick the maggots out and go catch a mess of fish with the maggots.

Doughknob · Nov 3, 2021

JJT said:
Sawzall with a bimetal/demo blade works fine.

Hmmmm..... I have tried a sawzall with a 'metal' blade. Not sure it was "bimetal" though. I have thought of trying it again but clamping the beasty down tighter so it doesn't just flex as I cut. I will also look for "bimetal" blades.

Doughknob · Nov 3, 2021

ROUSTABOUT said:
Big ole chop saw. Smelly but works. They burn good too. There are videos on how to cut them up with a home rigged contraptions. I have well over a thousand myself. I don't know how many you need to move. Had a fella call the other night wanting some to burn because they were having a funeral and it was kinda cool out. Boys, it's poor here in rural Arkansas. I've seen that same guy get a dead coon off the road and pick the maggots out and go catch a mess of fish with the maggots.

LOL! I have tried a metal-cutting blade in my circular saw and I did indeed get some small flames as the blade melted and set fire to the rubber as it tried to cut the steel cords!

Doughknob · Nov 3, 2021

MAX-24-Dean said:
I used an Ideal tire groover with good results, grooved out the rubber down to the steel belts, then used a cut off wheel to cut the belts.

Ideal Tire Groover: Ideal Heated Knives : Tire Grooving Irons : Tire Grooving Tools : Tire Groovers : Tire Sipers : Heated Groov

Pit Stop USA sells Ideal Heated Knives, Tire Grooving Irons, Tire Grooving Tools, Tire Groovers, Tire Sipers, Heated Grooving Irons, Ideal Heated Knife, Heated Tire Grooving Tools, Heated Tire Grooving Irons, Heated Tire Groovers, Tire Cutters

pitstopusa.com

I have thought of trying a fiber cut-off wheel but didn't think it would work for the rubber. I did not want to do separate operations - just wanted to cut it with one pass. But I may have to rethink that. Thanks.