The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating rubber components and metal components of tread portions (110) of road vehicle tyres (10). Each tread portion comprises a tread side (200) and a back side (220), and the method comprising the steps: forming a chain of tread portions by connecting a plurality of tread portions in a longitudinal direction, said tread portions being connected such that the tread side of each tread portion faces in the same direction, such that the chain of tread portions comprises a tread side and a back side; causing the tread side of at least a part of the chain of tread portions to contact a curved surface (125); and directing at least one high-pressure jet (140) against the back side (220) of the part of the chain of tread portions contacting the curved surface, to cause separation of the rubber components from the metal components. In a preferred arrangement the at least one high-pressure jet is at least one ultra high-pressure water jet. An apparatus is provided to perform the method.