Retread & Remolded Tires 101 (Refurbished Tires)

The techniques of retread and remolded tires may not inspire too much confidence in drivers. These terms are seldom heard, as drivers tend to not use tires that have been rejuvenated in this manner. However, these techniques are more and more commonplace nowadays.

This is especially true in the trucking industry, where the utilization of these tires has been growing at a rapid pace for a number of years and with no negative impact on safety or performance according to DOT statistics.

Officials did not restrict this trend to the trucking industry alone, more and more passenger vehicles and off-road vehicle owners have jumped on to this trend. This is due to the strong surface grip and environmentally friendly reputation of these tires.

What are Retread Tires?

Manufacturers using these technologies completely renew retreaded tires. A new layer of rubber has been overlayed to replace its worn-out tread. Inspectors thoroughly loo over and check retread tires for any significant damage to their casing before taking any action.

Retreading process preserves about 90% of the material in used tires. This results in a 20% material cost, compared to manufacturing a new one.

What is a Recap Tire?

The term “recap” as it pertains to tires, is basically a synonym for the word retread. So, all the information in the previous paragraph on retread tires also applies to “recap” tires.

Are Retread Tires Safe?

When we’re talking about retreaded and remolded tires, this is the six-million-dollar question. This is a big hurdle to overcome for drivers who do not utilize retreaded and remolded tires.

According to various studies, conducted by traffic departments on a municipal, state and federal level, it is clear that remolded and retreaded tires don’t have a higher accident rate than new tires.

As most people know, most accidents that relate to tires are usually due to the issues of under-inflation and capacity overload.

The American tire industry has devised its own internal set of standards in regards to retreaded tires. To ensure constant improvement in retread technology and tire safety, every retread has DOT number which has the date and manufacture location stamped on the tire.

These internal standards have proven themselves so effective, the Department of Transportation has not yet developed Federal Regulations for retreaded tires.

It is not only the trucking industry that champions retread tires, other important sectors of nationwide service, with a high-mile-per-vehicle utilization rate, use retread tires regularly. Like the U.S. Postal Service, emergency services, military, and commercial vehicles, which are absolute proof retread tires should have your complete confidence.

Are Retread Tires Legal?

As mentioned above, the Department of Transportation has no official regulations for retreaded tires. Therefore, their legality has been subject to misinterpretation, with some people being of the false opinion that these tires are illegal in certain states. The truth is that NO states in the U.S. ban the use of retread tires on any type of vehicle.

Only the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) mentions the legality of retread tires, which states:

The only vehicle that is not permitted the use of retread tires is a Commercial Motor Carrier, and this is only restricted to its front wheels. So, only buses are not allowed to use these tires on their front wheels exclusively. This is the ONLY specific type of vehicle that cannot use retread tires on its front wheels.

Are Retread Tires Cheaper Than New Tires?

Retreaded tires cost considerably less. As for the specific price difference, this varies but it can be half as much for a retreaded tire as a new tire, with some manufacturers even providing a warranty on their retreaded tires.

Many startup trucking companies opt for less expensive tires with a plan to switch to new tires once the business gets up and running. However, they seldom replace retread tires with new tires in these instances, as they perform without issues.

Benefits of Retread Tires

First and foremost, retread tires are less expensive than new tires. This is not to say that they are substandard, on the contrary. Retread tires are getting more and more popular as they provide the value of a new tire for a considerably lower price.

Retread and refurbished tires are safe. Even the President of the United States declared that all government vehicles utilize retread and refurbished tires on all government vehicles whenever this is possible. Retread tires undergo testing and adhere to the same standards as new tires.

Retread tires are better for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, retreading a tire takes 7 gallons of oil compared to 22 gallons for making an entirely new tire. Retread tires save on average 360 million gallons of oil per year. As they make use of quality recycled materials, this process significantly reduces the harvesting of rubber plants.

Retread tires can last as long as new tires. As mentioned above, retread tires are subject to the same inspection and standards as new tires. So, the period of service in comparison to a new tire is about the same.

All types of vehicles can use retread tires. Retread tires cover all major tire categories.

What are Remolded Tires?

A remolded tire is as close to a new tire as it is possible. Manufacturers cover remolded tires with the new rubber from bead to bead. They wrap industrial-grade, unvulcanized rubber to the crown and shoulder of each tire by an Orbitread machine. They also give the sidewalls a new layer of sidewall veneer.

Are Remolded Tires Legal?

Remolded tires are absolutely legal for use across the country. The only exception is on the front wheels of commercial motor carriers (buses).

Remolded Tires Manufacturers

Some of the most renowned and trusted manufacturers that provide their own remolded tires are:

• Bridgestone
• Continental
• Goodyear
• Michelin
• Insa Turbo

Also, TreadWright tires have been gaining consumer confidence, due to their high-quality process of retreading and remolding.

Retread vs Remolded Tires

The biggest difference between a remold and a retread tire is the amount of rubber placed onto the worn-out tire.

On retread tires, they only replace the tread area, while they renew remolded tires with new material from bead to bead.

Due to this, remolded tires are superior to retread. As the detailed process of remolding provides a higher degree of durability and an increased level of safety. Due to this, passenger vehicles and SUVs use remolded tires more frequently.

The threat of tread separation, as unlikely as it is, is more present with retreaded than remolded tires. Both types of tires are environmentally friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long do retread tires last?

Retread tires last about as long as a new tire. In other words, it can last up to 3-4 years, if driven up to 15,000 miles annually.

How can you tell if a tire is a retread?

You can tell a tire is a retread by the seals, creases, seams, or tiny bits of excess rubber that may be evident on the tire’s sidewalls. That's because retreading includes placing a wrapping of new rubber where the original wore out. This is before the vulcanizing process.

How many times can you retread a tire?

Depending on the type of vehicle and what it is for, the tire can receive a retread five times. Long-haul vehicles usually don’t go over three treads. Local service operations can handle a few more retreads, as they are not for highway use.