BUSINESS

Is Retreading a Tire Less Expensive?

Vehicle maintenance requires a lot of money. As a car owner, seeking ways to cut servicing fees can massively curtail your spending. Retreading or remolding your tires is an effective way to do this instead of replacing them with new ones.

Tire purchases constitute a bunch of the operating costs of a fleet. And their conditions matter regarding mechanical performance and fuel consumption. The latter of which makes an additional monetary requirement.

The retreading technique is typical of tires that have sustained wear but with enough useful rubber. Not minding the controversies behind this method due to tire particles on highways, its merits outweigh the downsides.

Relationship Between the Retreading Process and Cost

Understanding how auto retreading works gives you an idea of what to expect. Essentially, it’s a remanufacturing process and how it’s done contributes to the payment amount.

When you visit the treadmill, the worn-out tire is first subjected to visual and instrumental assessment. That’s to check if it’s suitable for a retread via a similar X-ray method, shearography. When confirmed, it’s stripped of its casing to remain its treads.

The buffed casing is inspected in the crater processing stage, with surface irregularities corrected. Afterward, it’s coated with gum or vulcanized rubber. A ring tread liner is fitted around the tire using a laser and clamp as it’s sealed. This process is termed cold retreading.

The more financially demanding hot retreading requires advanced technologies and expertise. It involves coating the casing with harsh rubber. High pressure and temperature of about 150°C are needed for this solution.

Compared to new tires, the cost of remolding is between 30 to 50 percent on average. That’s because the tread represents a fraction of recently manufactured ones.

Advantages of Retreading

Recapping your tires has widespread benefits. Here are a few.

  • It prolongs the lifespans of your tires, which is more than the expectancy of new types. Also, your tires can undergo this process up to three times if well used.
  • It saves you money.
  • Delivery of approximate performance when compared to new tires.
  • It’s eco-friendly due to the reduction of carbon footprints.
  • Enhanced fuel efficiency.

Disadvantages of Retreading

Retreads have a couple of misconceptions worth mentioning. While some are true, others aren’t.

  • Tire debris on tarred roads is often mistaken for retreads. Whereas these are either from new tires or poorly done remolds. This has caused many tongues to wag, badmouthing the integrity of the process.
  • Poor performance is another reason many people desist from having their tires remanufactured. While it may be true in retrospect, tech innovation has revolutionized the technique. With proper maintenance, retread tires can go miles under ideal inflation.
  • Lastly, some believe remanufactured tires are subpar. To a degree, this claim may hold some iota of truth. However, it still depends on who does the treading.

The savings from retreading is significant to your overall tire investment. Ensuring proper conditioning of your tires gives you a chance to salvage costs and optimize your vehicle’s performance. Aside from that, visit a professional for other related services  like your tyre installation Fairfield and wheel alignment if necessary.

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