Frequently Asked Questions

The law requires a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm for summer tyres on passenger cars and vans, but for safe driving in wet conditions at least 4 mm is recommended. For winter tyres, the legal minimum is 3 mm, while in demanding winter conditions a tread depth of at least 5 mm is recommended.

Under the Waste Act, used tyres without rims can be returned free of charge to any retailer selling tyres, provided the quantity matches the number of new tyres purchased. You can also return your old tyres without rims free of charge to Finnish Tyre Recycling collection points without any purchase obligation. Tyres must not be disposed of in landfill.

All tyres without rims can be recycled in Finland. Producers are responsible for recycling tyres from passenger cars, vans, trucks, mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, ATVs, light quadricycles, trailers, work machinery, forestry machinery, tractors and other agricultural equipment.

In general, Finnish Tyre Recycling collection points accept only tyres without rims free of charge. Rims can be removed at tyre shops for a separate fee when returning tyres.

Unlike other collection points, selected Stena Recycling locations also accept tyres with rims:

• Joensuu: Hallbergintie 24, 80100 Joensuu. Tel. +358 50 5384031. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Jyväskylä: Sepelitie 23, 40320 Jyväskylä. Tel. +358 10 7780132. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Kuopio: Kaatopaikantie 316, 70800 Kuopio. Tel. +358 17 368 0152. Open Mon–Sun 7.00 – 20.00 (Jätekukko sorting station, staff on site Mon–Fri)
• Lahti: Sapelikatu 6, 15160 Lahti. Tel. +358 10 7780154. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Oulu: Liitinkuja 5, 90620 Oulu. Tel. +358 10 7780155. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Riihimäki: Pajakatu 7–9, 11130 Riihimäki. Tel. +358 10 7780194. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Seinäjoki: Puurtajantie 37, 60100 Seinäjoki. Tel. +358 10 7780155. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 16.00
• Tarvasjoki: Takamaantie 12A, 21450 Tarvasjoki. Tel. +358 10 7780166. Open Mon–Fri 8.00 – 15.45

The tyre recycling system is funded through a recycling fee charged when purchasing new tyres. This ensures that the cost is borne by tyre users rather than all taxpayers. The recycling fees per tyre are available on our website.

Where possible, tyres are retreaded for reuse, recycled as materials or recovered for energy in accordance with the waste hierarchy. Tyre materials are processed into cut pieces, crumb rubber, granulate or powder for various applications.

In Finland, practically all end-of-life tyres are collected and recovered. The statutory annual recovery target of 95 per cent set for tyre producers is clearly exceeded, as the system also receives a significant number of tyres from distance sales and from producers not affiliated with a producer responsibility scheme.

The Nordic countries are pioneers in producer responsibility-based tyre recycling. In other EU countries, recycling systems began to develop more extensively only in the 2000s following the landfill directive. Today, the average recovery rate for used tyres in Europe is around 95 per cent.

Responsibility lies with tyre producers, namely manufacturers, importers and retreaders. They must ensure recycling either independently or by joining a producer responsibility organisation, under threat of a penalty payment. Finnish Tyre Recycling Ltd is currently the only producer responsibility organisation approved for the producer register in Finland.

Consumers are not legally required to recycle tyres. However, responsible users take care of their tyres with both safety and the environment in mind. Thanks to a comprehensive and efficient recycling system, consumers can dispose of their old tyres free of charge and with minimal effort.