Treading towards greatness?
Treading towards greatness?
There may be negative perceptions around retreaded tyres, but they remain a highly popular category within the automotive aftermarket. JACO DE KLERK discovers what the future holds for these recycled rollers and busts some myths.
Global retread tyre sales are estimated to be valued at US$8,8 billion in 2021, says a study by Future Market Insights (FMI), an international provider of market intelligence and consulting services. โAfter registering a considerable drop in sales amid Covid-19, the retread tyre market will bounce back, exhibiting 4,7% CAGR between 2021 and 2031.โ
The study highlights that an increasing number of industries are opting for aftermarket services as there is an increased aim on capping the environmental impact of vehicle waste and saving resources. It adds that a higher focus on maintaining commercial vehicles for a longer period of time will boost retread tyre sales as well.
โRetread tyre sales are picking up in response to a higher focus on maintaining vehicles. While the focus on maintenance remains high among heavy commercial vehicle owners, retread tyres are gradually making inroads into the off-road vehicle segment. To capitalise on these opportunities, manufacturers are likely to focus on expanding their footprint around the world.โ
Despite this positive outlook, Bandag notes* that there are still naysayers who dispute the advantages of retreading based on false information. Letโs bust these myths with retreaducation 101 โฆ
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Myth โ Retreads arenโt safe
Fact: Hereโs a testament to safety โ nearly every major airline trusts retreads. Todayโs sophisticated retreads are nothing like their predecessors. In fact, theyโre so safe, school bus fleets rely on them. Even fighter jet pilots count on them. And you can imagine the stress jet tyres undergo on take-offs and landings.
Myth โ Only new will do
Fact: โNewnessโ is important for some. But retreads last as long as most new tyres. You can expect todayโs new breed of retreads to perform as well as, if not better than, a quality new tyre. And theyโll certainly outperform a cheap one. Retreads sell for less than a comparable new tyre.
Myth โ Retreads are mileage munchers
Fact: A quality retread delivers mileage on par with many new tyres. Just as new tyre 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.
Myth โ Bad tread, bad casing
Fact: A casing can still be good long after your tread wears. A tyre casing doesnโt wear out as a tread does. So, with proper maintenance, you can expect to get multiple lives out of a quality casing.ย The key is using a โqualityโ casing.
Myth โ Retreads just donโt perform
Fact: Try telling that to blue chip fleets the world over or the top competitors at major US on and off-road races. High-quality retreads have taken all the punishment that professional off-road races could dish out.ย Theyโve also run gruelling 24-hour races and even cruised to over 240 km/h on a heavy truck at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Myth โ Heat kills them
Fact: The notion that retreads will fail on hot days is an old wivesโ tale. Sure, heat can ruin any tyre, new or not. Few would argue that. But in most cases that heat is due to underinflation. Thatโs why proper inflation is so important, no matter what kind of tyre youโre running.
So, itโs no wonder that these recycled rollers are set to rise, as they donโt only save operators money and cap some of the environmental waste that the industry generates, but they can also hold their own on the quality and safety front.
* The global retreading solutions provider, with over 60 years of industry expertise, busts these misconceptions in its piece โRetread myths: Some ideas about retreading belong in the Stone Age!โ ย
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