Tire-derived fuel, or TDF, is shredded scrap-tire material used as fuel in industrial plants that are built and permitted to burn it. At Willig Tire Recycling, we make TDF chips from a mix of TBR (truck and bus radial) and PCR (passenger and car radial) tires.
TDF is a fuel product. It is not crumb rubber, and it is not a playground or turf product.
What TDF is, and what it isn’t
TDF chips are a sized fuel, not a mesh-designated crumb. If you need rubber for a field, a mold, a playground, or a road mix, that’s a different product line. We make those too: 10/20 mesh, 20 minus, 20/30 mesh, 30 minus, and 1/4 inch crumb, plus black rubber mulch and ballistic rubber. For help with crumb sizes, see Crumb Rubber Mesh Sizes Explained.
Our TDF is made from a mix of TBR and PCR tires. We quote the chip size your plant runs, not a generic fuel grade name. If your system uses a different size than a standard load, ask us about a custom size.
Numeric fuel and lab values are on a spec sheet, available on request. We don’t publish those numbers on the website. If your fuel program needs a spec sheet for submittals, ask and we’ll send one for the chip size you’re evaluating.
Who uses tire-derived fuel
Common users include cement kilns, paper mills, utilities, power plants, and steel mills, along with other industrial facilities that are set up and permitted to use TDF.
Cement kilns burn tire-derived fuel in the manufacturing process. Paper mills and utility boilers that are set up for TDF use it as a supplemental fuel. Power plants and steel mills that are equipped for TDF buy it as well.
Each plant has its own chip size and handling system. We quote to what you run. That might be a standard chip, or a custom size if your handling system is built around a different cut. Tell us what you burn and how you receive it, and we’ll quote that, rather than a one-size-fits-all grade.
How to order TDF chips from Willig
TDF chips ship in bulk bags or bulk loads. When you request a quote, tell us:
- The chip size your system handles
- How much you need
- The delivery location
- A contact name and phone or email
- Whether you want a spec sheet with the quote
Email sales@willigtire.com, use the contact form, or call Willig Tire Recycling North in Galion at 330-326-7048, or Willig Tire Recycling South in Hamilton at 283-999-2010.
We have plants in Galion (352 South St, Galion, OH 44833) and Hamilton (3851 South St, Hamilton, OH 45011). Galion hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Hamilton hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There’s more detail on our Tire-Derived Fuel industry page and our TDF Chips product page. The industry page is the overview. The TDF Chips page is the product write-up, including how TDF differs from crumb.
TDF and our other products
Willig also makes all-black crumb rubber and black rubber mulch from high-quality truck tires, and ballistic rubber in 3/4 inch chunks. Those are ordered separately from TDF. If you have one job that needs fuel and another that needs crumb, we can quote both. Just keep the products straight on the purchase order so the size and the end use match.
If you’re new to our size list, start with the crumb rubber page or Crumb Rubber Mesh Sizes Explained. If you’re buying fuel, start with TDF.