About This Career

Operates machines to build tires.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Builds semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
• Trims excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.
• Fills cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.
• Places tires into molds for new tread.
• Fits inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.
• Buffs tires according to specifications for width and undertread depth.
• Brushes or sprays solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeats process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.
• Starts rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.
• Aligns treads with guides, starts drums to wind treads onto plies, and slices ends.
• Rolls camelbacks onto casings by hand, and cuts camelbacks, using knives.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work