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Tire Builders

SOC 51-9197.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers tire building, retreading, and recapping operations in a manufacturing facility, spanning hands-on tread application and hot rubber repair through production monitoring, quality assurance, and facility-level process leadership.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Tire casing preparation steps — follow under direct supervisor guidance on a production floor retreading line.
  2. Semi-raw rubber treads — apply to buffed tire casings using established protocols during supervised recapping operations.
  3. Excess rubber and surface imperfections — identify and remove under close direction during basic retreading tasks.
  4. Hot rubber materials — fill minor cuts and holes in tires following step-by-step safety instructions on the shop floor.
  5. Hand tools and trim equipment — select and use correctly under direct oversight during introductory tire building tasks.
  6. Tread alignment and placement — recognize common errors and report discrepancies to a lead builder during training shifts.
  7. Production area safety rules — observe and apply consistently during early on-the-job learning in a tire manufacturing facility.
  8. Operation and control sequences — execute pre-defined machine settings under supervision on standard tire building equipment.
  9. Near-vision inspection of tire surfaces — perform basic visual checks for obvious defects during entry-level quality reviews.
  10. Workplace instructions and verbal directions — listen actively and confirm understanding before beginning each assigned tire building task.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Semi-raw rubber tread application — complete independently on buffed casings at a consistent pace within a retreading production line.
  2. Trimming operations — perform routinely on retreaded tires, reducing imperfections with minimal rework across familiar tire sizes.
  3. Hot rubber repair materials — apply to cuts and holes in tires with controlled precision, adapting technique to varying defect depths.
  4. Tire building machine controls — monitor and adjust operational parameters during standard runs to maintain output quality.
  5. Tread and casing fit — evaluate through near-vision inspection and manual assessment, correcting alignment issues without supervisor intervention.
  6. Multilimb coordination demands — manage simultaneously during repetitive tread-building cycles to sustain throughput on a production shift.
  7. Defect patterns on tire surfaces — recognize and categorize consistently, initiating corrective steps within practiced retreading workflows.
  8. Production records and shift logs — update using office suite or word processing software to document completed units and material usage.
  9. Trunk strength and extent flexibility requirements — apply safely over sustained production periods by following ergonomic best practices on the floor.
  10. Peer communication on process issues — engage in active listening exchanges to coordinate tire flow and minimize bottlenecks across a work cell.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full retreading and recapping process — execute autonomously across the complete build cycle, handling non-standard tire sizes and complex tread profiles.
  2. Hot rubber filling of cuts and holes — perform with high control precision on damaged tires requiring multi-layer repair under varying shop conditions.
  3. Tread-to-casing bonding quality — assess independently through systematic inspection, diagnosing root causes of adhesion failures and implementing corrections.
  4. Industrial control software interfaces — operate and troubleshoot on tire building equipment to maintain vulcanization parameters within specification.
  5. Operations monitoring across multiple machines — conduct concurrently, detecting anomalies in pressure, temperature, or cycle time before defects occur.
  6. Critical thinking in non-routine repair scenarios — apply to evaluate whether a tire casing meets safety thresholds or should be rejected from the retreat line.
  7. Trim equipment settings and blade maintenance — optimize for different rubber compounds and tread patterns to sustain precision across full production shifts.
  8. ERP or production management software — use to track material consumption, job status, and output metrics across an assigned section of the build floor.
  9. Ergonomic and physical load management — model and advise on for tasks requiring static strength and arm-hand steadiness during extended tire building operations.
  10. Quality standards and inspection criteria — apply consistently and document findings using spreadsheet software to support process improvement reviews.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Tire building production standards — establish and refine across the facility, integrating task requirements with throughput, safety, and quality goals.
  2. Retreading and recapping workflows — redesign when process data reveals systemic inefficiency, leading cross-functional teams in implementing improvements.
  3. New builder onboarding and skills development — lead by structuring hands-on training programs that progress learners from tread application through full vulcanization prep.
  4. Defect reduction initiatives — drive organization-wide by analyzing production data in ERP and spreadsheet software to identify root causes and direct corrective action.
  5. Equipment investment and industrial control system upgrades — evaluate and recommend by applying mechanical knowledge and production processing expertise to cost-benefit analyses.
  6. Facility-wide safety culture — shape by formalizing cautiousness and stress tolerance expectations into standard operating procedures and performance accountability frameworks.
  7. Presentation and reporting materials — develop using office suite and presentation software to communicate production performance outcomes to plant management and stakeholders.
  8. Cross-departmental coordination on material supply and scheduling — direct using project management software to ensure uninterrupted tire building operations at scale.
  9. Competency benchmarks for tire builder roles — author and maintain, calibrating proficiency expectations to evolving production technologies and industry retreading standards.
  10. Strategic capacity planning for the production floor — lead by synthesizing operational monitoring data, workforce capability assessments, and market demand into actionable facility roadmaps.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors36 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Automobile Tire Builder (Auto Tire Builder) · Automobile Tire Recapper (Auto Tire Recapper) · Bead Builder · Belt Builder · Belt Machine Operator · Buffer · Cord Tire Builder · Injection Mold Technician · Injection Molder · Injection Molding Assembler · Injection Molding Machine Operator · Injection Molding Maintenance Technician (Injection Molding Maintenance Tech)
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Knowledge domains
Production and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementMechanical
Abilities
Manual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessMultilimb CoordinationControl PrecisionRate ControlTrunk StrengthNear VisionFinger DexterityExtent FlexibilityStatic Strength
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailCautiousnessStress TolerancePerseveranceSelf-Control
Technology
Electronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareProject management softwareWord processing softwareIndustrial control softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareInternet browser software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
  2. Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.
  3. Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.
CIP education codes
52.020547.060747.060847.060947.061548.0503

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.