Seeking a solution to the problem of disposing scrap tires, we attempted to depolymerize or degrade vulcanized rubber scrap such that the resulting pseudo-liquid material could be used as an extender/plasticizer in virgin rubber compounds. As degraded natural rubber (DNR) and degraded styrene-butadiene rubber (DSBR) are polymeric in nature (confirmed from gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results), they can be unique substitutes for typical rubber plasticizers (oil). DNR-loaded samples have shown better mechanical property retention after aging and a lower extractable content in acetone than the respective oil-plasticized samples. Solvent swelling in toluene and 100% modulus values indicate that DNR-added rubber vulcanizates undergo a phase adhesion between the rubber matrix and the degraded polymer, as well as incurring extra reinforcement due to particulate carbon black present in the degraded rubber. (C) 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.