Retread Tyres Save Millions of Gallons of Oil Yearly
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 8.07
We’ve seen before, on one or two occasions, how properly inflated tyres can save on fuel consumption and hence CO2 emissions. So much so that the US wastes 4 million gallons through under-inflated tires. Now we learn, via the US-based Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, that while it takes 22 gallons (83 litres) of oil to make one average size truck tire, we only need use about 7 gallons to have it retreaded. Thus a fleet replacing around 100 tires annually would save 1,500 gallons (~5,680 litres) a year. Apparently the US federal government have a mandate for the use of retreads on certain federal fleet vehicles, and other major fleets like the U.S. Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS routinely use retreads, but the TRIB want to encourage the many who aren’t to get with the program. The TRIB, is a non-profit, member supported industry association with hundreds of members in North America (and in many countries). They also want folk to know that those so-called ‘rubber alligators’ seen on highways are more likely the result of poor tyre inflation or overloading, rather than a blown retread, which they contend is a common misconception. Much more from the ::Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, via ::Azom.
Arrant BS.
Those 'rubber alligators' are the result of overloading or underinflation of _retreaded tires._ Blaming it on overloading or underinflation is just like what Ford did when its crappy tires started flipping Explorers.
I have seen with mine own eyes exactly the way this happens. My wife and I were driving on the Pike and she asked me "where do those pieces of rubber come from?" Just at that moment, the semi in front of us swerved, we heard an explosive sound, and the blown retread flew in pieces at our innocent little Beetle Diesel, scratching our bumpers and fenders and causing us to swerve to the shoulder to miss the rest of the 'rubber alligator.' It is only because we had to swerve through the new obstacle course created by huge chunks of rubber and metal that we didn't get that idiot's plate - he kept driving, no doubt to avoid paying the penalty for his dangerous operation.
Sure, retreads save money because you don't have to get new tires, but they're a hazard to other drivers, and their users get away with murder, because after the retread blows, they can still get away, while the vehicles behind them might be damaged or crashed.
Maybe copious massaging of statistics could justify the position that 'retreads don't fail more than new tires,' but the fact is that new tires don't blow off a truck and go into the windshields of the cars behind them, or kill the motorcyclists behind them, when they fail.
Retread is ok for semi trucks but very bad for cars; i've seen a lot of them with internal belting problems; leading to failure of the tire or a real out of balance setup that can't be fixed without a pound of lead on one side. I spent money on a winter tire set SUPPOSELY built to match the Nokian Hakkapellita specifications... Well I took them back to the garage after 2 of them develloped problems with distorded sidewalls.
my sneakers make use of old tire treads...slightly off-topic but still :) Blackspot v2.0's are great!
It's hard to disagree with the comments above...the rubber flying off at 65-80mph is certainly a hazard, and seeing all those chunks on the side of the road (not to mention still IN the lane- having to swerve around road debris) ... there has to be a better way!
One note should be made on retreads that has not been.Retreads are not allowed on front steer axles.It is a major safety issue.
Remember...
Here in the US we use old tyres(tires) to repave Roads (which would normally use oil in the base), hoses, plastics, fill, and other products which would normally require far more OIL to produce.
I hate retreads. They are dangerous on my high performance vehicles and they require far more energy to "retread" than to simply make new tires... Recycling old tires into useful products such as Roadways is far more efficient and less destructive on the environment.
Underinflated or overloaded truck tires are dangerous, period. It is NOT true that "new tires don't blow off a truck and go into the windshields of the cars behind them, or kill the motorcyclists behind them, when they fail."
Safety isn't about whether the truck is a rebuilt 1980 Mack or a 2008 Peterbilt, or whether it has new Bridgestones or retreaded Goodyears. Safety is about diligent inspection and maintenance, plain and simple.
Rubber alligators come from blown tires. Only a professional would be able to tell if the tire had been retreaded or repaired. You certainly wouldnt be able to tell the difference while driving by at 55 mph.
Please keep your tires inflated and encourage your friends and families to do the same. It helps both the environment and our safety.