The Retreading Industry Explained

And the Myths Surrounding It

Trucking fleets and commercial vehicle owners use retread tires on a consistent basis. Yet, there continues to be a lack of understanding of the industry and a few misconceptions to go along with it. There’s no doubt the biggest benefit is in saving money when purchased over a new tire. Retread tires are both safe and the right choice for most organizations. Read on to learn more on how your fleet operations can save money with retread tires, without compromising vehicle and driver safety.

Retread Tires Are Safe

The biggest misconception surrounding the retread tire industry is that these tires are more likely to lead to blowouts (with some pointing to the numerous tire components on the side of the highways as evidence of this). However, that’s not the case.

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institution studied 1,496 pieces of debris and discharged tire casings collected from five states. They analyzed the components to determine the original cause of failure. In the majority of cases, belt separation was the cause of the failure, which is primarily caused by under-inflation. This is not due to poorly made commercial tires, but it is a truck and trailer maintenance issue that impacts drivers on the roadways.

Retreading: It’s the Right Thing to Do

If fleet owners want to pay more for a new tire, why fight them on that? Here’s the thing – it’s not just about the money. There’s another very good reason to invest in retreaded tires rather than new ones. Specifically, there is a marked difference in the way they impact the environment.

The manufacturing of a new tire requires 22 gallons of oil. Manufacturing a retreaded tire requires just 7 gallons of oil. Each year, 14 million retreaded tires are made, saving 210 million gallons of oil and reducing the demand for fossil fuel significantly.

Other Common Myths About Retreaded Tires

Still unsure if retread tires are the right choice for your commercial vehicles? Dispel these common myths and make an informed choice that is better for your bottom line and for the planet.

• Myth: Buying low-cost new tires is better than retreading premium tires: It is more likely that those cheaper tires will not last the promised mileage, leading to the need to replace them sooner, adding to the cost of operating your vehicle. A secondary consideration is the tire casing itself.  Premium quality tires usually have stronger casings that can allow for even 2-3 retreading cycles if not damaged. Retreading premium tires can often deliver 500% more miles than an ultra-low-cost new tire.
• Myth: They just are not safe. For clarity, consider that retreaded tires are safe enough that 80 percent of commercial aircraft landing gear tires are retreads.
• Myth: Retreads use more fuel. On the contrary, there are dozens of retreaded tire options that are approved by the EPA as low-rolling resistance tires, actually reducing fuel costs compared to the original tread.
• Myth: Retreads do poorly in extreme temperatures. With proper tire inflation and maintenance, they perform excellent in all conditions without lagging behind other tires in any way.

Consider a few facts about retread tires and their impact on the environment when compared to low-cost tires.

• They lower CO2 emissions by 24%.
• There is a 70% drop in natural resource extraction.
• They reduce air pollution by 21%.

It’s clear that retread tires are one of the best investments you can make in your vehicle. STTC can help you choose the best models for your vehicle. Call us now at 610-954-8473 or contact us online. Learn about how the use of retread tires not only saves you money but makes sense for your organization and your enviornmental footprint.