In the present study active carbons have been prepared from used tires and their characteristics were investigated. A two-stage activation procedure (pyrolysis at 800°C in N 2 atmosphere during 45min in an industrial pyrolyser with a capacity of 1t/h, followed by CBp activation with steam in the presence of CO 2 at 970°C in a bench scale reactor) was used for the production of activated samples. Gas (He/N 2 ) phase adsorption and SEM techniques were used to characterize the produced active carbons. Comparison of surface area of the obtained activated carbons with others reported in the literature and the commercial carbon NORIT ® GL 50 has also been performed.