The pyrolysis of tire powder was studied experimentally using a specially designed pyrolyzer with high heating rates. The composition and yield of the derived gases and distribution of the pyrolyzed product were determined at temperatures between 500 and 1000 degreesC under different gas phase residence times. It is found that the gas yield goes up while the char and tar yield decrease with increasing temperature. The gaseous product mainly consists of H-2, CO, CO2, H2S and hydrocarbons such as CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, C3H8, C4H8 and C4H6 with a little other hydrocarbon gases. Its 3 heating value is in the range of 20 to 37 MJ/Nm(3). Maximum heating value is achieved at a temperature between 700 and 800 degreesC. The product distribution ratio of gas, tar and char is about 21:44:35 at 800 degreesC. The gas yield increases with increasing gas residence time when temperature of the residence zone is higher than 700 degreesC. The gas heating value shows the opposite trend when the temperature is higher than 800 degreesC. Calcined dolomite and limestone were used to explore their effect on pyrolyzed product distribution and composition of the gaseous product. It is found that both of them affect the product distribution, but the effect on tar cracking is not obvious when the temperature is lower than 900 degreesC. It is also found that H2S can be absorbed effectively by using either of them. About 57% sulfur is retained in the char and 6% in the gas phase. The results indicated that high-energy recovery could not be achieved if fuel gas is the only target product. In view of this, multi-use of the pyrolyzed product is highly recommended. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.