When retreads are paired with integrated technologies and a proactive maintenance program, fleets are able to maximize performance and, ultimately, make mobility more efficient.
By LaTres Jarrett
The transportation industry is evolving, and efficiency is king. Fleets across industries want smart business solutions that optimize operations, give them a competitive edge and help them operate more sustainably. Retreads deliver these advantages, particularly for the waste segment.
Refuse fleets expect a lot from their tires. The high-scrub, on and off-highway environment that waste fleets encounter requires tires engineered for durability and long-lasting wear. Waste-specific retreads offer these performance benefits at a fraction of the cost. Retreads help fleets maximize their tire casing investment across the full product lifecycle, lowering the total cost of tire ownership over time. Premium tire casings are engineered to be retreaded several times. When used together, a premium tire casing and retread combination can last up to 500 percent longer than ultra low-cost tires that are used only once.1
Retreads also require far fewer natural resources to manufacture. Manufacturing a retread saves 15 gallons of oil over manufacturing a new tire. Approximately 15 million commercial truck tires are retreaded each year, which can help save up to 225 million gallons of oil annually.2 And, because a casing is being reused several times, fleets who opt to retread are helping to keep millions of tires out of landfills.3 As a waste fleet, you may visit the landfill every day, but retreads help reduce and defer your contribution.
The State of Today’s Retreading Market
The retread industry continues to face increased competition from ultra low-cost import tires, making it critical to demonstrate the long-term value and cost savings generated by maximizing tire assets over time through retreading. Up to 90 percent of large fleets, including waste fleets, are retreading today.4 Large fleets recognize that retreading is a smart business practice that delivers savings over time without compromising tire performance. Additionally, many fleets are making global commitments to sustainability and view retreads as a key way to reduce their environmental impact.
Starting a Retread Program
Tire performance starts with the tire casing. Premium casings are engineered with specific performance attributes in mind, such as durability and extended tread wear life. The same is true for retreads. Refuse fleets should work with a trusted dealer partner to develop a comprehensive tire program tailored to meet their business needs, which for waste fleets should include waste-specific casing enhancements like cooling fin technology and stone rejection for performance in high-scrub environments. A trusted dealer partner can make recommendations on the best waste-specific retread to pair with a casing—namely one that features scrub-resistant compounds for long service life.
Premium tire casings are designed to be retreaded multiple times and, on average, waste fleets retread two times per casing every six months. Tire management technologies play a big role in maximizing tire casing performance and enable fleets to manage a tire casing across its entire lifecycle. This ensures that a fleet is not leaving money on the table by removing casings from service too early. By tracking how many times a tire has been retreaded, fleets can make smart, informed decisions about their tire program. When paired with proactive tire maintenance practices, fleets can conceivably retread a casing up to four times, improving profitability and freeing up funds to reinvest in the business.
The Bottom Line
Retreads provide fleets with a reliable, profitable and sustainable business solution. When fleets opt to implement a retreading program, they capitalize on these benefits and impact the bottom line. When retreads are paired with integrated technologies and a proactive maintenance program, fleets are able to maximize performance and, ultimately, make mobility more efficient.
LaTres Jarrett is the Director of Marketing for Bandag the business of Bridgestone Americas dedicated to the research, development and manufacturing of premium retreaded tires. She oversees strategic marketing efforts to revitalize and grow the brand among customers and dealers. Prior to joining Bridgestone, Jarrett managed marketing campaigns for leading brands such as Pepsi, Gatorade, Cap’n Crunch and Dole, among others.
Bridgestone Americas is headquartered in Nashville, TN and is the U.S subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. For more information, visit www.bridgestoneamericas.com. For more information on Bandag, call (844) 74-TREAD or visit www.bandag.com/contactus.
Notes
1. Golden, J.S., Handfield, R., Daystar, J. and, J. Woodrooffe (2018). Retread Tires in the United States & Canada: An Analysis of the Economic & Environmental Benefits for Fleet Operators and the U.S. Government. Page 9. *Performance and mileage will vary based on application and operating conditions. The estimates are based on conversations with multiple tire dealers, fleet owners, and industry experts. Actual results may vary based on application, use, vehicle style and conditions.
2. Saves 225 million gallons of oil per year (15M retreads X 15 gallons of oil saved = 225 M annually).
3. Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau: What is retreading?: www.retread.org/learn-more
4. Golden, J.S., Handfield, R., Daystar, J. and, J. Woodrooffe (2018). Retread Tires in the United States & Canada: An Analysis of the Economic & Environmental Benefits for Fleet Operators and the U.S. Government. Page 10.
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