a method of reclaiming rubber from vehicle tyres that enables the high grade rubber in the tread portion of the tire to be collected separate from the lower grade rubber in the sidewalls and other areas of the tire . the method comprising separating the complete tread portion from the remainder of the tire and then removing from that tread portion the high grade tread rubber . thereafter the remainder of the tread portion and the sidewall and bead portion of the tire are each treated to separate the rubber from metallic and fabric reinforcement materials therein . the high quality tread rubber and lower grade other rubber are both removed in a particulate form .