Busting the myths about retreading tires

Retreads provide safety, durability, mileage and performance, at less than half the cost of new tires. The more you know about retreads, the more they make sense. Read on as we bust myths and bring the facts about why retreads are a cost-effective and quality choice.

Retread Inspection

MYTH 1: RETREADS LITTER OUR ROADS

FACT: All those rubber gators on the road are almost always the result of a casing failure, not a retread failure. Many of those gators contain wire. And there’s no wire in the rubber retreaders use.

Did you know? Examination of tire fragments and casings found on the nation’s highways concluded that road hazards and poor maintenance were the primary causes of failure.

MYTH 2: THEY’RE NOT SAFE

FACT: Nearly every major airline trusts retreads. In fact, they’re so safe, school bus fleets rely on them. Even fighter jet pilots count on them.

Did you know? Nearly 80 percent of all aircraft tires in service in the United States are retreads. 

 

Retread Skiving

MYTH 3: THEY’RE UGLY

FACT: In a blind beauty contest, most truckers can’t tell the difference. The appearance of a finished retread has a lot to do with the skill and thoroughness of the retreader..

Did you know? The U.S. and Canada tire retread industry delivers 1.4 billion pounds of landfill avoidance on an annual basis.

MYTH 4: ONLY NEW WILL DO

FACT: Retreads last as long as most new tires. You can expect today’s retreads to perform equal to, if not better than, a quality new tire. And they’ll always outperform a low cost tire.

Did you know? Retreading a premium tire two times can keep a tire on the road up to 500 percent longer than an ultra low-cost tire.
Retread Plant

MYTH 5: THEY’RE MILEAGE MUNCHERS

FACT: A quality retread tire delivers mileage on par with many new tires. Just as new tire mileage varies widely, so does retread mileage. The reason is due to a complex mix of tread compounding, tread weight, tread design and casing structure.

Did you know? Retreading a well-manufactured tire can save you more than 50% of the cost compared to buying a high-quality new tire.

MYTH 6: BAD TREAD, BAD CASING

FACT: A casing can still be good long after your tread wears. A tire casing doesn’t wear out like a tread does. So with proper maintenance you can expect to get multiple lives out of a quality casing. The key is using a “quality” casing, like Bridgestone.

Did you know? Kal Tire adheres to the highest manufacturing standards when producing Bandag retreads to ensure the safety, durability and quality of retreaded tires.
High-Quality Retreads

MYTH 7: THEY DON’T PERFORM

FACT: High-quality retreads have taken all the punishment that professional off-road races could dish out. They’ve also run grueling 24 hour races and even cruised to over 150 mph on a heavy truck at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Did you know? Approximately 15 million commercial tires are retreaded annually in the U.S. and Canada.

MYTH 8: HEAT KILLS ‘EM

FACT: Heat can ruin any tire, new or not. However, in most cases that heat is due to under inflation. That’s why proper inflation is so important, no matter what kind of tire you’re running.

Did you know? A retreaded tire compared to an ultra low-cost import can reduce CO2 emissions by 24%.

These Aren't Just Retreads. They're Kal Tire Retreads.

We have been helping Canada’s toughest industries and biggest fleets for over 50 years.  Get more out of your business, for less, with retread tires made right here in Canada.  Talk to one of our specialists about how your company can benefit from a custom retread program with Kal Tire. 

An Analysis of the Economic & Environmental Benefits for Fleet Operators Retread Tires in the U.S. and Canada. A joint report by Jesse Daystar, Duke University, Jay Golden, East Carolina University, Rob Handfield, North Carolina State University, John Woodrooffe, University of Michigan Emeritus. July 2018 © 2018 Bridgestone Bandag, LLC