Sports surfaces
Tyrefield sports surfaces
High performances, safety, and sustainability for every sports discipline.
After assuring safety and road performances, tyres carry on offering their precious characteristics in sports. Indeed, ELTs are transformed into sports surfaces that comply with athletes’ needs and the standards of federations. Tyrefield is a brand created by Ecopneus to identify and valorise sports surfaces made with ELT-derived recycled rubber.
The advantages of sports surfaces made with recycled rubber
Greater Performances
Return of elastic energy calibrated for every sport
Safety
Impact Reduction on articulations and muscles and prevention of micro shocks and fatigue.
Durability
Resistant to rain, ice, heat and UV rays without deterioration. Usable 365 days a year and reduced management costs.
Environmental sustainability
High quality second raw material replaces virgin raw materials, thus reducing energy consumption and imports.
Versatility
Indoor and outdoor use. Adaptable to all forms and dimensions. Fixed or removable solutions
Construction technologies
Cast-in-place
Rubber granules and resins are mixed and cast directly on the surface, creating a seamless surface. This technology is used for athletics tracks, playgrounds, and multi-purpose surfaces.
Prefabricated mats
Rubber mats are put together to form a layer upon which the finish is applied. It is a versatile solution for fixed or temporary installations. It is ideal for basketball, padel, athletics, volleyball, and multi-purpose surfaces.
Modular slabs
Interlocking, removable and reusable items. They are perfect for events, temporary installations or surfaces that must be moved. Used for 3×3 basketball and weight lifting.
Synthetic turf infill
In football pitches, rubber granules are placed in the turf to absorb shocks, protect the thread, prevent accidents, and assure the bouncing of the ball.
Scientific validation
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Comparatives studies on athletes’ functional and postural response on various sports surfaces have confirmed equal or higher performances compared with other sports surfaces.
Prof. Mauro Testa – Biomoove
Biomechanic analyses on Tyrefield surfaces for football, basketball, athletics, and padel have shown a reduction in articulation shocks, lower muscular fatigue, and a better response to athletes’ biomechanical needs.
University of Perugia – Department of Veterinary Medicine
Study carried out on horse-riding surfaces with Equinosis Q Lameness Locator system to measure the impact on horses’ gaits. It has confirmed that their performance is equivalent to the best sand fields, with a reduction of silica dispersion in the air .
Conformity and certifications
Tyrefield surfaces comply with the standards required by sports Federations and national and international bodies:
- FIBA (International Basketball Federation) for regular basketball courts
- FIP (Italian Basketball Federation) for certifications and the use of basketball courts in Italy
- FITP (Italian Tennis and Padel Federation) for XPadel Tyrefield
- EN 1177 (European Regulation) for anti-shock surfaces in playgrounds
- MEC for construction for activities on public buildings and schools Basketball
Basket
Recycled rubber is used as a performance layer underneath the play surface. This layer returns energy during jumps and absorbs the impacts of landing, reducing the weight on knees and ankles. Its calibration is studied to avoid excessively soft surfaces that cause fatigue. Modular interlocking slabs are used for temporary events. They comply with FIBA’s specifications and are used in many outdoor competitions, such as the 3×3 Streetball Basketball.
Athletics
The athletics tracks made with ELT-derived rubber managed by Ecopneus in Italy transform end-of-life materials into a highly-performing technical solution. Rubber powder and granules mixed with resins create a seamless, draining, and anti-slippery surface on tracks. The rigidity of this surface can be adjusted to favour speed or shock absorption. The same technology is used for platforms and technical areas dedicated to jumps and throws. Their formulation has been studied to increase stability, comfort and protection, reducing the risk of shocks and muscular fatigue.
Volleyball
In volleyball, recycled rubber is used to create the amortising layer under the playing surface. When an athlete lands after jumping, the rubberized underlayer absorbs the shock protecting back, knees and shoulders. The layer thickness and density vary based on their use: more rigid surfaces favour more explosive movements; softer surfaces reduce the micro shocks caused by repeated landings.
Padel and Tennis
Fast movements and rapid changing of direction and rotations generate forces up to 7 times our body weight affecting knees, ankles and back. The recycled rubber layer placed under the surface absorbs these loads, reducing articular stress and muscular fatigue. XPadel Tyrefield was developed in collaboration with Casali Sport and has been approved by the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation. It is the first court made with recycled rubber certified for these sports.
Horse riding
Rubber is used in three contexts:
- In horse stables in the form of mats that offer a soft support for horses and reduce the costs for hay and wooden chips.
- Indoor walkways to avoid slipping.
- Outdoor training fields where rubber replaces sand or is mixed with it.
In this case, the main advantage is the reduction of dust caused by horses’ hooves. This dust contains silica particles that enter human and animal lungs causing respiratory diseases to both people and horses.
Playgrounds
The antishock surfaces for playground use recycled rubber to protect children from falling. Recycled rubber is used below swings, slides and play structures to protect children when falling, thus reducing the risk of shocks. The EN 1177 EU Regulation provides for these surfaces to be installed under every structure higher than 60cm .
Football and Rugby
In synthetic turf pitches, recycled rubber is used in two ways:
- As infill: the granules are placed among the grass blades to absorb shocks and assure the bouncing of the ball in a similar way to natural pitches.
- As a mat placed under the pitch to make it elastic and drain water by the means of specific ducts.
This configuration allows professional performances without the problems of natural turf: no holes in the ground or mud and the surface can be used in all weather conditions. Moreover, this implies an important reduction of maintenance costs and water consumption for irrigation. The 2023/2055 EU Regulation introduced the ban on recycled rubber infill in new sports surfaces from 2031. Companies are collaborating with the Institutions and sports federations to develop alternative solutions that may comply with the same technical and safety needs. Ecopneus is actively following these developments and supports the research of applications that assure concrete benefits for posts, athletes, and the environment.
Yachting
In the nautical sector, recycled rubber slabs are placed on piers, docks, walkways and the technical areas of ports. In these places, water, dampness and a constant contact with the sea make traditional surfaces slippery and dangerous. Rubber, instead, assures high grip even when wet, thus drastically reducing the risk of falling for people walking or working in those areas. Moreover, fenders made with recycled and recyclable rubber assures a safe boat docking.