Automotive

Retreaded Tires - They're Not What You Might Think

No doubt you've noticed large chunks of rubber, commonly called tire debris or road alligators, alongside the roadways. The prevailing perception is that this tire debris is due to retreaded tires failing. This is not factual, but rather, a long-standing misconception.

The true culprit is improper tire maintenance, particularly the failure to maintain recommended air pressure in tires, states Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), a non-profit, member-supported industry association dedicated to the recycling of tires through retreading and repairing, and to promoting proper tire maintenance for all tires. Tires that are not properly maintained will fail and it doesn't matter if the tires are new or retreads.

Air pressure is at the heart of proper tire maintenance, Brodsky says. By maintaining the proper inflation pressure, all tires will provide the best fuel mileage, life, performance and safety.

Recommended air pressures are located on a label inside the vehicle, typically in a doorjamb or inside the glovebox on the lid.

"The truth is retreaded tires provide the same safety, reliability, performance and handling as tires that have never been retreaded, and they do it at a tremendous savings over the high cost of new tires," points out Brodsky. "Retreaded tires keep getting better and better with continuous improvements in quality, durability and reliability. To blame retreads for all tire failures is the same as blaming the vehicle for an accident caused by a drunk driver," he adds.

Retreaded tires are performing flawlessly all over the world in all types of weather and on all kinds of terrain for all types of vehicles - from school and municipal buses to emergency vehicles to trucks to commercial and military aircraft.

The General Services Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the White House (through Executive Order 13149) all strongly endorse retreads as the tire of choice for government fleets, as well as for all commercial vehicles.

"What goes into the manufacture of quality retreaded tires is far more complex and sophisticated than most people imagine," observes Brodsky.

The process of retreading begins with a thorough visual inspection of worn tires, called casings, typically followed by the use of various high-tech, non-destructive inspection equipment. This equipment is used to see inside a casing to uncover invisible damage and to ensure that the tire  is a prime candidate for a full and useful additional life.

Although it's a loose analogy, this non-destructive inspection equipment is the equivalent of a retreadable tire getting a CAT scan or MRI.

Tires that pass these rigorous initial inspections then continue on through the retreading process. Using technologically-advanced equipment, the worn tread is precisely buffed away and new tread is securely bonded to the casing in a method similar to the manufacture of a new tire.

Most people also don't realize that retreading is very environmentally friendly, notes Brodsky. Retreading actively contributes to helping conserve valuable finite natural resources needed to manufacture tires. For every retread produced, one less new tire needs to be manufactured.

With retreading, tires stay on the road longer so fewer worn tires require disposal instead of many, which helps reduce scrap tire disposal problems.

For additional information, or for a tour of a retread plant, contact the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) toll free from anywhere in North America at (888) 473-8732 or by e-mail at info@retread.org. TRIB's Web site - www.retread.org - contains a huge amount of valuable information and resources about retreading, as well as on tire maintenance and tire repairing.

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