Why Use Retread Tires Instead Of New Tires?
If you are considering new tires, you may want to look at an excellent alternative to conventional replacement tires. We live in a world that is slowly but surely looking at more eco-friendly, recycled solutions in various aspects of their lives and the tire space is no different. Retreaded tires are now becoming very popular and many trucking companies opt for them.
Retreading, or recapping as a process isn’t a new concept. It has been around for a long time – since the first half of the 20th century. Over that period, it has grown in technical capability and popularity. But the concept of retreading hasn’t undergone much of a change – essentially, rubber is being replaced on the surface of a tire.
However, computerization and automation of equipment has brought about a significant change in the technology used to retread tires. If you are contemplating whether it’s a wise choice to use retreated tires for your fleet of heavy haul vehicles, read on. Here we answer some common questions that arise when there is talk of using retreaded tires.
1. Are Retread Tires Safe?
So, why are truckers and consumers wary of purchasing and using retread tires? There are many myths surrounding these products, many which state that they are unsafe, especially for long hauls and heavy-duty trucking. But does this myth have any basis? Not really! While there’s definitely a difference between brand new tires and retread tires, the variance is very negligible.
The latter are put under the exact same expectations and manufacturing standards as brand new tires. It means, you can expect the same level of performance and safety from them. There are stories floating around about how the rubber that you see lying on the side of the road comes from many retread tires- that’s entirely untrue. Many studies have been conducted to analyze the rubber debris that is found strewn along the roadside.
The conclusion of these studies is that most of this debris wasn’t due to any deficiencies in the manufacturing process. Whether retreaded/new, a distinct majority of incidents that take place, arise from road hazards and underinflated tires, regardless of their origin. Retread tires that have been made using the latest technology are just as reliable as new ones. So, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing safety when you opt for retread tires.
2. Are Retread Tires Cheaper?
The cost factor is another major one when it comes to retread tires. Modern technology in this field has advanced significantly. Most tires on large trucks and construction equipment can be easily retreaded for far less than the cost of new ones. Tires fall in the top five budget items for commercial truck operators and transportation companies. Given this fact, retread tires represent a major savings opportunity. Estimates are the amount the shipping industry collectively saves by using retreaded tires runs into hundreds of millions annually.
3. How Long Do Recap Tires Last?
All commercial tires are built for safe driving on long hauls, at high speeds, with heavy freight. If retread tires are maintained well and properly inflated, they can typically last for almost as long as new tires- approximately 75-80% of the lifespan of new tires. When you get the retreading done at a certified garage, you can be sure they will use the latest technology and equipment to ensure reliable and long-lasting retreads.
4. Environmental Impact
In addition to all of the benefits mentioned above, the other aspect of using retread tires are the environmental benefits. Once they wear out, massive OTR tires are almost always used as roadside barriers or end up in landfills. But when you retread your tires, they are put back to work.
In this process, you take a perfectly good condition casings and rather than putting them in landfills or grinding them up, you give them new life. The production of new tires consumes rubber, oil and steel. When you opt to retread tires, you save these resources and make the tires work over and over again. For large trucking operators, this is a great way to meet their social responsibility as well.
While it’s definitely great to use retread tires, it’s crucial that you get this job done at a credible, well-established, certified tire retreading center.
At TMS TruckMasters, we offer you both new and retread tires and can help you to make the right choice.