How Old is Too Old for Tire Retreading?

Tire retreading is now helping companies across the commercial trucking industry to save thousands of dollars per miles driven on their vehicles. But one of the major concerns that many have with the tire retreading process is knowing when the tire is too old to go through the process for an effective result. In our latest post, we’ll examine the question “When is a tire too old to go through the tire retreading process?”

Age not the leading consideration

The main things you should note when considering tire retreading are the age of the tire, how many times it has been retreaded previously, and the application that the tire is operating in.

When considering a potential tire for retreading, companies are more likely to consider the type of application in which the tire has been involved. Whether the tire has been involved in off-road applications or long-haul driving activities could be a leading determinant in its potential for retreading. Different applications have specific industry averages for acceptable age restrictions. Severe use fleets tend not worry about age, where as long haul fleets cap the age of their tires around 7 years. Severe use fleets also tend not to worry about how many repairs are in the tire, but long haul on average allows 3 repairs.

Tires that have undergone significant stress, either due to tough working conditions such as long-standing off-road driving, or as a result of limited maintenance, may not be suitable for retreading regardless of their relative age. Since stress is an important factor, fleets limit the amount of times a tire can be retreaded. A tire that has had 2 retreads on it has undergone more stress than a tire with none, therefore it may be less suitable for tire retreading.

No clear industry guidance on age restrictions for tires

While there is no clear guidance regarding the age at which a tire is no longer suitable for the tire retreading process, it’s considered old when the tire reaches six years of active performance. The tire retreading company will conduct an in-depth inspection to determine its current condition. This inspection includes analyzing all potential failure points for the tire and testing whether its structure is strong enough to allow for the retreading to be completed.

Work with a qualified retreading company to ensure quality tires

The only way you can be assured of the quality of the retread tires delivered to your fleet is by working with a qualified retreading firm and discussing their tire analysis and testing work with them. Find out more about the stages each tire goes through within their plants, and then make a decision based on the data the company is able to provide.

A casing asset management program can also pay dividends over the long term. These programs allow you to decide the specs acceptable for capping your tires; such as how many times it has been capped, the age, and how many repairs are necessary.

Our team at STTC has significant experience as a leading local retreading firm and we can help you make the right choices for your fleet’s long-term future. To learn more about this important topic, call today.

View our Fun Facts About Retread Tires infographic.