Tyre Retreading

Introduction
Retreaded tyres (or remoulds as they are sometimes better known) have been a part of the tyre market for many years. It is not that long ago that every tyre manufacturer/trader sold retreaded tyres as a budget line. However, with environmental issues becoming more important to the general public, it is the retread's status as a recycled product that is now becoming more important.

What is tyre retreading?
Tyre Retreading is a technology, where the old tyres are made serviceable by removing worn out and damaged treads (rubber belts) and replacing it with new treads. Similar to the new tyres, the treated tyres can be very well used on all vehicles, irrespective of light or heavy vehicles.

Tyre Retread Industry
Tyre retreading is an established industry and a growing one since the early 1990s. Today’s retreads are produced in very modern plants operated by trained specialists. Professional retreaders adhere to the stringent industry standards at every step in the retread process.

Why Retread?
Retreaded Tyres are Great Value for Money!
Retreaded tyres can and do perform as well as new tyres and they do it at a substantial savings over the high cost of new tyres.
It should be remembered that every major truck tyre manufacturer, with no exceptions, manufactures its tyres for multiple lives, meaning they are designed to be retreaded. So when an owner operator or a fleet manager doesn't retread his tyres, he is simply throwing money away.
If you are a private car owner, retreads also offer a viable economic alternative to new tyres.
Retread tyres are proven to be as safe and durable as compared to new tyres. Many truck fleets plan their new tyre purchases with the intention of having worn casings retreaded two or more times as a routine part of their tyres’ budget.

How it is done?
Retreading is recycling
Retreading is the process where selected and inspected worn tyres, called casings, receive a new tread. The worn tread is buffed away and a new tread is bonded to the tyre body in a process very similar to the manufacture of new tyres. There are several different process techniques, but the ultimate objective is the same, affixing a new tread through the application of heat, time and pressure. There are basically two ways in which tyres can be retreaded - the Hot process (mould cure system) and the Cold process (precure system).

Hot Process (Mould Cure System)
The mould cure system of retreading, put simply, involves the following processes. Used tyres are inspected and subjected to any necessary repairs before being buffed to remove the old tread and sidewall rubber. Uncured rubber is then applied to the tread and sidewalls following which the tyre is cured in a mould in roughly the same way that a new tyre is manufactured. Mould cure retreads tend to be made by larger retreaders due to the large investment needed in moulds and would normally carry the retreaders own brand name.
Due to its durability, the Hot Process is mainly used for Off-the-Road use (Mines and rugged areas)


Cold Process (Precure System)
With the precured retreading system, the buffing process is followed by the application of a precured tread strip or ring to the tread area of the casing. The tyre is then cured at lower temperatures in an autoclave or an electric chamber.
The Cold Process is mainly used for On-the-Road to deliver high mileage.


The mould cure and precure systems each have their advantages in certain applications and most larger retreaders tend to offer both processes. However, smaller retreaders tend to prefer the precure system due to the low initial investment and high levels of flexibility in the production process.

How Green are Retreads?
Retreads are extremely environmentally friendly.
Firstly, the production of a retread saves substantial amounts of fossil fuels. In fact, the manufacture of a passenger retread requires 4.5 gallons less oil than a new tyre.
Secondly, retreaded tyres sold are almost exclusively manufactured within the territory itself, which means they don't have to be shipped from the other side of the world, unlike many budget new tyres, a high proportion of which are manufactured in China and other Far East countries.
Retreading is also the best practical environmental option for tyre recycling. Every retread used means one less new tyre saving in natural resources. It also means that less tyres ultimately have to be burned, thereby reducing pollution. In fact, a recent study by the Environmental

How much would you save?
The retreaded tyres' life is almost equivalent as of the new tyre. But the expense of retreading is only 30 to 40% cost of the new tyre. So truck owners, tractor owners and OTR (Off-The-Road) vehicle owners will prefer to retread the tyres instead of purchasing new ones because using retreaded tyres becomes economical. Even car and Jeep tyres can easily be retreaded to save cost and increase life expectancy of tyres.

In the next blog, I will be discussing more about Tyre Retrading and how to take care of your tyres so that they can last long to give you optimum services.

If you have any suggestions/feedback please, do comment.