Following approval by the Ferrous Division, The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) board of directors will consider revisions to the ferrous special scrap tire specification.
Current Specification – Ferrous- Special (Scrap Tire)
Proposed Revisions:
- Processed Tire Wire grades be revised to begin at 1 percent, raise to 3 percent and then 5 percent, and then raise by 5 percent each grade until 30 percent, with a total of 9 grades. This reflects the higher value and potential new markets available for cleaner grades of wire.
- OTR be added as a separate category for Pulled Bead Wire, with the same three grades as the current Truck and Passenger categories.
- Specifications be renamed as Ferrous – Special (Tire Wire)
The percentage of rubber and fiber for tire wire specifications will ultimately be determined by mutual agreement between the buyer and seller.
Processed Tire Wire (ferrous): Chopped
- Grade 1: One percent or less (≤1 percent) rubber/fiber.
- Grade 2: One to three percent (1-3 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 3: Three to five percent (3-5 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 4: Five to ten percent (5-10 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 5: Ten to fifteen percent (10-15 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 6: Fifteen to twenty percent (15-20 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 7: Twenty to twenty-five percent (20-25 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 8: Twenty-five to thirty percent (25-30 percent) rubber/fiber
- Grade 9: Greater than thirty percent (30 percent) rubber/fiber
Pulled Bead Wire (Off the Road or OTR): not chopped, made up of loops of wire
- Grade 1: Less than 5 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 2: 5-10 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 3: Greater than 10 percent rubber/fiber
Pulled Bead Wire (Truck): not chopped, made up of loops of wire
- Grade 1: Less than 5 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 2: 5-10 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 3: Greater than 10 percent rubber/fiber
Pulled Bead Wire (Passenger): not chopped, made up of loops of wire
- Grade 1: Less than 5 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 2: 5-10 percent rubber/fiber
- Grade 3: Greater than 10 percent rubber/fiber
The full board may choose to adopt, amend or reject the recommendations of the Ferrous Division and table them pending further review. More information about the rules governing the procedures from the addition, amendment, or withdrawal of ReMA’s ISRI Specifications can be found at www.isrispecs.org.
To submit comments, recommendations, or questions, contact Chief Economist Emily Sanchez at esanchez@recycledmaterials.org.
Published April 2026
