French tests claim tyre granulate makes concrete stronger

Tyre granulate from French used tyre recycling organisation 6996 Aliapur is said to help make concrete more solid, according to two studies (launched in 2000 and 2007) and financed by Aliapur, tyre manufacturer 449 Michelin and the French environmental and energy management agency 6997 Ademe.

In 2010, a partnership was formed between Aliapur, Ademe, 1455 Eiffage Travaux Publics and the laboratory for materials and durability of constructions of Insa Toulouse in order to test the new concrete on the ground.

Some three concrete surfaces were laid on a site in Greater Toulouse in early 2011: one consisting of just concrete and the other two integrating used tyre granulates. The latter two were found to have performed better in terms of natural risks and cracks in the concrete after one year of tests. They notably withstood vehicle traffic and weather vagaries among other things.