1 .Retreads litter
our roads.
FACT: Those rubber gators on the road with all the wire? Not often retreads.
There’s one way to determine if rubber scraps on the road are retreads. Look closely. Many of those gators contain wire. And there’s no wire in the rubber retreaders use. In fact, the scrap rubber you see is almost always the result of a casing failure, not a retread failure.
2. They’re not safe.
FACT: Here’s a testament to safety: nearly every major airline trusts retreads.
They’re not safe. Today’s sophisticated retreads are nothing like their predecessors. In fact, they’re so safe, school bus fl eets rely on them. Even fi ghter jet pilots count on them. And you can imagine the stress jet tires undergo on takeoffs and landings.
3. They’re ugly.
FACT: In a blind beauty contest, most truckers can’t tell the difference.
They’re ugly. The appearance of a fi nished retread has a lot to do with the skill and thoroughness of the retreader. That’s why truckers choose high-performance retreads, like Bandag, that have the quality looks of a new tire.
4. Only new
will do.
FACT: For some, “newness” is important. But remember, retreads last as long as most new tires. Only new will do.
You can expect today’s new breed of retreads to perform equal to, if not better than, a quality new tire. And they’ll certainly outperform a cheap one. Proof it never pays to skimp.
5. They’re mileage
munchers.
FACT: A quality retread delivers mileage on par with many new tires. Hit the road, “myth.”
They’re mileage munchers. 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. That’s a lot to think about.
6. Bad tread,
bad casing.
FACT: A casing can still be good long after your tread wears.
Bad tread, bad casing. 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.
7. They plain
don’t perform
FACT: Try telling that to the top competitors at major U.S. on and off-road races.
They plain don’t perform 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.
8. Heat kills ’em.
FACT: The notion that retread bonds will fail on hot days? An old wives’ tale.
Heat kills ’em. Sure, heat can ruin any tire, new or not. Few would argue that. But in most cases that heat is due to underinfl ation. That’s why proper infl ation is so important, no matter what kind of tire you’re running.