Tyre Retreading is a process through which used and worn out tyres are recycled and made reusable. In the manufacture of a new tyre, approximately 75%-80% of the manufacturing cost is incurred in tyre body and remaining 20%-25% in the TREAD, the portion of the tyre which meets the road surface. Hence, by applying a new TREAD over the body of the worn tyre, a fresh lease of life is given to the tyre, at a cost which is less than 50% of the price of a new tyre. This process is termed as 'Tyre Retreading'.
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Tyre Retreading-Process & types
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Hence, by applying a new TREAD over the body of the worn tyre, a fresh lease of life is given to the tyre, at a cost which is less than 50% of the price of a new tyre. This process is termed as 'Tyre Retreading'. An initial inspection of the tyre is done in which the casings are carefully inspected to ensure that there is no casing damage. Otherwise it would reduce the safety and performance of the retreaded tyre. Then the worn tread is buffed away and a new tread is bonded to the tyre casing. There are two different process techniques (hot and cold), but both are similar to the manufacture of a new tyre, bonding a new tread through the application of heat and pressure for a predetermined time. Truck-fleets, Fire engines, passenger cars, off-road vehicles, delivery vans, farm equipmen earthmovers and aircraft can all use retreads. However, the body of the used tyre must have some desirable level of characteristics to enable retreading. Retreading cannot also be done if the tyre has already been over used to the extent that the fabric is exposed/damaged. Retreading could be done more than once.
Types of Retreading
- 1. Conventional Process (also known as 'mould cure' or 'hot cure' process) - In this process a un-vulcanized rubber strip is applied on the buffed casing of the tyre. This strip takes the pattern of the mould during the process of vulcanization.
- 2. Precure Process ( also known as 'cold cure'). in this process a tread strip, where the pattern is already pressed and precure is applied to the casing. It is bonded to the casing by means of a thin layer of specially compounded uncured rubber (known as cushion or bonding gum) which is vulcanized by the application of heat, pressure and time.
Retreading can be done by the following two processes:
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Replacement Market
The replacement market, including State transport undertakings and Government buying, accounted for around 59% of the total tyre demand. The demand in the replacement market depends on the vehicle population, the level of economic activity, life of the products transported, kilometre age per vehicle, the price of the tyres and the quality of the existing road infrastructure. Additionally, the replacement market, which offers better margins, is extremely competitive. The replacement market is dominated by the truck and buses segment, which accounted for 22% of all tyre sales in the replacement market. The large size of the replacement in turn is determined by the interplay of various factors as discussed below:
• The replacement demand may be lower because of longer replacement intervals and lower business
mileage if the economic activity slows down.
• Replacement demand in India is higher because of a low vehicle scrap page rate.
• Poor road conditions by lowering the life of tyres have a positive impact on replacement
demand.
• Applying a new tread or "re-treading" can extend the life of the tyre at a significantly lower
cost, thereby lowering replacement demand. In India, re-treading finds greater acceptance in the
commercial segment.
Radialisation of tyres is likely to result in lower replacement demand. While car radialisation
in the country has reached a level of 65%, truck and bus radialisation stands at just 2-10%.
Poor road and support infrastructure as well as traditional vehicle designs act as a barrier to
radialisation in the commercial vehicle segment.
SCOPE & BENEFITS
Safety
Retreaded tyres are manufactured to high standards, using highly sophisticated
machinery. There is no doubt that professionally-made retreads are as safe as new
tyres.
Retreaded tyres can be driven at the same legal speeds as comparable new tires with
no loss in safety, performance, or comfort.
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Economical Benefits
Retreaded tyres give the same mileage as comparable new tires, at a lower cost-per-mile. With lower production costs than new tyres, retreads have a purchase price approx. 50% lower than comparable new tyres. With our Retreading program, Tyres can perform much better with half the cost
Environmental Benefits
Retreading greatly reduces solid waste disposal problems. Every tyre retreaded is a tyre saved from the landfill. The disposal of casings in landfills is considerably reduced. Retreading conserves hundreds of millions of gallons of oil every year. Tyres are basically petrochemical products and the manufacture of a single truck tyre uses up to 80 litres of oil. Since approximately 70% of that oil is found in the tyre casing, which is reused in the retreading process, only about 25 litres of oil are needed to retread that same tyre.