You might have heard the term retreading in a discussion about tires. What is retreading, can all tires be retreaded, and how many times can you retread a tire?
Retreading, recapping, or remolding is the process of removing the worn-out treads of an old tire and replacing them with new ones. The treads are the grooved parts that touch the ground and will wear out after many miles of driving, significantly reducing the tire’s ability to maintain grip with the road surface. It’s no secret that new tires are getting more expensive by the day, but retreaded tires will cost significantly less while positively impacting the environment. According to tire retreading specialist Bandag, retreading a tire utilizes 30% less energy and about 15 fewer gallons of oil than manufacturing a new tire. Moreover, retreading can extend the lifespan of a truck tire by 300% or more, giving fleets a lower cost per mile when transporting goods.