Will AI replace Tire Builders?
AI can do 0% of the work Tire Builders do at least twice as fast. None of their 20 tasks show real AI use yet. Robots can technically handle 20 physical tasks.
AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.
AI could do this next0 · 0% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- No other tasks in this job can be sped up by AI today.
Robots can technically do this20 · 100% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Depress pedals to rotate drums, and wind specified numbers of plies around drums to form tire bodies.Robots: purpose built settings13% of time
- Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
- Buff tires according to specifications for width and undertread depth.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
- Align treads with guides, start drums to wind treads onto plies, and slice ends.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
- Pull plies from supply racks, and align plies with edges of drums.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
- Start rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts, and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Cut plies at splice points, and press ends together to form continuous bands.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Position ply stitcher rollers and drums according to width of stock, using hand tools and gauges.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Wind chafers and breakers onto plies.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Fit inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Brush or spray solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeat process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Place tires into molds for new tread.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Rub cement sticks on drum edges to provide adhesive surfaces for plies.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Roll hand rollers over rebuilt casings, exerting pressure to ensure adhesion between camelbacks and casings.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Depress pedals to collapse drums after processing is complete.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Clean and paint completed tires.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
- Measure tires to determine mold size requirements.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
Still needs a person0 · 0% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Every task in this job is touched by AI or robots in some way.
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 100% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.
What to do next
- Keep an eye on the 20 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
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