The invention relates to a method for the recovery of carbon and combinations of hydrocarbons from discarded tyres or similar polymeric material by pyrolysis, using a reactor (3) in which the material is placed in a preferably largely fragmented condition, whereby the material is heated to pyrolysis temperature by the recirculation of previously formed and heated pyrolysis gas which is led through the material and where the pyrolysis gas obtained in this way is brought to condense to condensable products in a condenser (8) connected to the reactor. In order to improve the possibilities of control of the process of pyrolysis, a reactor is used with an inlet (6) and an outlet (7) so that a gas can be led through the reactor (3) passing over the polymeric material which is placed in it, whereby at least a part of the pyrolysis gas which does not condense in the condenser (8) is heated to a predetermined temperature and is led by recirculation in a circuit through the reactor for heating the polymeric material placed in it.