Pros and Cons of Using Retreaded Tires

Fleet industries and consumers alike often wonder whether or not retreaded tires are as safe and reliable as tires with virgin casings. Across the board, from university researchers to trucking forums, there is no research or even anecdotal evidence that shows any differences in quality amongst the two.

Pros of Retreaded Tires

The primary reason people decide to go with retreads is because they are much less expensive than new tires. Truckinginfo.com explains why retreads make good financial common sense: “Time for a bit of simple math. If you were to take a $400 tire out of service and sell the casing to a retreader for $100, the net cost of the tire is $300, using round numbers. If the casing is retread twice, or perhaps three times, the net cost of the original tire can be reduced to as little as $100.”

Other than economic value, the other major benefit of using retreaded tires is that it’s far gentler on the environment. By retreading a tire several times, you can conserve 50 gallons of oil, a genuine concern given the global oil shortage.

The Cons of Retreaded Tires

If you search for the cons of using retreads, you will come up short-handed. But there is some criticism, or rather myths, which are addressed below.

Two state agencies dispel common myths about retreads:

• Utah State University – USU reports that the rubber from busted tires that you see on highways isn’t from retreads, but rather, from virgin tires.
• Washington State Department of Transportation – “The majority of tire debris found on the Nation’s highways is not a result of manufacturing/process deficiencies,” explains Washington State DOT.

Retread companies have to adhere to stringent industry standards, and no published research shows that they are in any way deficient in quality.

In fact, in 2000, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order that requires federal agencies to use retreaded tires wherever practical, according to the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau. As one JK Forum poster commented, the only con of retreaded tires is that “you don’t know the history of the carcasses.”

Locating a Reputable Manufacturer 

Retreaded tires – or even new, for that matter – must be purchased from reputable companies that adhere to quality standards. You may want to look for a dependable company by perusing the Modern Tire Dealer’s annual list of top retreaders in the United States, or by doing an online search on the Better Business Bureau website.

If you have any indication that a company is producing subpar tires or that they use questionable retreading methods, pass them over and look for an alternative company.

Discuss Legal Matters with a Florida Defective Tire Lawyer

If you have any legal questions or concerns regarding tire-related liability claims, or if you were involved in an accident that you suspect was caused by faulty tire manufacturing, we invite you to contact our attorneys. Contact us today at 855-529-0269 or 855-529-0269 for a free, no-obligation consultation.