Michelin debunks the myths about today’s modern, safe and reliable retreads.
These tyred retread myths are rooted in outdated information still circulating from decades ago when truckers attributed all road gators to retreads. Some of these same old-school truckers also checked their tyre pressure with a tyre thumper. In addition, the truck tyre retread industry has been impacted by a surge of ultra-low-cost imports that are 65% less likely to be re-treaded, are worse for the environment and add to the misconceptions about retreads. Fortunately, these misconceptions are changing, and most major truck fleets and business savvy owneroperators are on board with retreads.
- MYTH 1: Buying low-cost import tyres will save more money than retreading premium tyres. Truth: Successful fleets that buy premium tyres and have adopted retreads don’t believe this myth. Eighty-nine percent of fleets with 500 or more trucks use high-quality tyres with multiple re-treaded lives. These fleets carefully track their cost per mile and total cost of ownership, and they see that retreads are clear winners for them. Retreading a premium tyre two times can deliver 500% more miles per tyre than an ultra-low-cost new tyre. The cost of each re-treaded tyre compared to a premium new tyre is generally 50% less.
- MYTH 2: All the rubber on the side of the highway comes from retreads. Truth: New and re-treaded tyres fail at the same rate.
- MYTH 3: Retreads are not safe and can cause accidents. Truth: Re-treaded tyres are so safe that on any given day, 80% of commercial aircraft are landing on re-treaded tyres.
- MYTH 4: Retreads are less fuel efficient than new tyres. Truth: Many manufacturers offer the same low-rolling resistance tread designs on their new and re-treaded tyres while independent re-treaders can also offer several low-rolling resistance options.
- MYTH 5: Retreads don’t do well in extreme temperatures. Truth: Improper maintenance and tyre inflation lead to failure, especially in extreme temperatures.
- MYTH 6: They don’t look as cool as new tyres. Truth: This may once have been true, but today’s innovative retread processes and options for custom painting make it hard to differentiate new tyres from re-treaded ones.
- MYTH 7: Retreads are not as good for the environment. Truth: Manufacturing a re-treaded tyre requires 15 gallons less oil and approximately 90-100 pounds less total material than a new tyre. Source