Retreaducation™ 101

The Facts. The Figures. The Basics.

The whole retread tire story needs some serious retelling. Dependable, better for budgets and environmentally-friendly for everyone. Those are the basics and the facts. So let’s mash-up the myths and set the record straight for good. Start your Retreaducation today and learn the truth about retread tires.

The Bandag Challenge

We’re putting our money where our retreads are. Bandag retread tires will deliver a lower operating cost than the competition, or we'll pay the difference. Take the Bandag Challenge. Any savings not in your favor will be refunded. You read that right.

Fill out the contact form to start your challenge and we will be in touch soon with more details.

Take the Challenge
Step 1

In a cross-axle test, we will use two similar vehicles in your fleet that run similar routes, and mount Bandag retread tires on one of them to compare against the products you are using.

Step 2

We will help you track performance of the tires and record the data.

Step 3

At the end of the Bandag Challenge comparison test, you will see the cost savings with Bandag retread tires, or we'll cut you a check for the difference!

The Retread Process

Fact-by-fact. Step-by-step.

Modern retreading is a lesson in simplicity. In 10 expedient stages, the process is complete, and your fleet is safely back on the road.

BASys Manufacturing is where it starts. Bandag dealers with this technology assign a unique barcode to every casing so it can be tracked in real time, making retreading more efficient. Here’s how the rest of the process unfolds.

The Retread Process

Initial Inspection

Trained Bandag specialists perform a visual, hands-on inspection from bead to bead inside and out. This is done to find and mark all visible injuries.

The Retread Process

Electrical Inspection

Actual damage can be closely evaluated by looking “through-the-tire” in the crown and sidewall areas that may not be visible to the naked eye.

The Retread Process

Shearography

This determines conditions within the casing, subjecting it to a vacuum while lasers measure surface anomalies. An animated visual of the anomalies determines casing condition.

The Retread Process

Buffing

At this stage, the casing is inflated to its operational shape. The process removes the worn tread surface, trues up the roundness and prepares the surface for a new tread.

The Retread Process

Repair

Any damaged material identified during initial inspection is removed and repairs are made, essentially returning the casing to a useful life.

The Retread Process

Applying Cushion

An uncured bonding layer is extruded onto the prepared casing surface and all skives are filled. The casing is ready for a new tread.

The Retread Process

Building

A new tread is automatically applied with attention to precise detail. The tread must be straight and perfectly centered on the casing.

The Retread Process

Enveloping

The assembled but uncured tire is encased in an elastic envelope and prepared for curing.

The Retread Process

Curing

The curing chamber causes the bonding layer in the tire to cure and permanently adhere the new tread.

The Retread Process

Final Inspection

A visual, hands-on inspection is repeated to ensure our quality specifications are met.

  • Fact-by-fact. Step-by-step.

  • Initial Inspection

  • Electrical Inspection

  • Shearography

  • Buffing

  • Repair

  • Applying Cushion

  • Building

  • Enveloping

  • Curing

  • Final Inspection

Thinking Retreads?

Use your street smarts.

It doesn’t take a genius to understand the benefits of retread tires. It’s basic math. Retreads are better on your budget. They’re better for the environment. And they’re better for your business, keeping your trucks rolling. It all adds up to a smarter tire solution.
Wallet-Friendly

Anytime you talk retreads, a good place to start is the price, because they perform like new tires at a fraction of the cost. Specialized tread patterns stand up to the demands of your operation. State-of-the-art compounds that help resist wear and tear.

Time-Friendly

You can’t afford downtime. Neither can your customers. Bandag’s retread process is efficient and proven, keeping your trucks rolling day and night.

Retread Tire Myths

Retread Myths. Retread Realities.
Get a load of some of these road-tested whoppers. Gators, cost, bad weather, safety, mileage and more. Learn the truth. The rest is pure nonsense.*

We put eight common retreading myths to the test. They all failed.

Download Myth PDF
Myth 1

Retreads litter our roads.

Fact: Those rubber gators on the road with all the wire? Usually not retreads.

Look close and see for yourself. Virtually all that scrap rubber contains wire. Casing wire. The fact is, there’s no wire in the rubber retreaders use.

Myth 2

They're not safe.

Fact: Even sophisticated jet fighters use them. Today’s modern retreads are so safe, school bus fleets depend on them. Talk about trust.

Myth 3

They're ugly.

Fact: In a blind beauty contest, most truckers can’t tell the difference. The appearance of a finished retread has a lot to do with the skill and thoroughness of the retreader.

Myth 4

Only new will do.

Fact: For some, “newness” is important. But remember, retreads can last as long or longer than new tires.

You can expect today’s new breed of Bandag retreads to perform equal to, if not better than, a quality new tire. And they’ll certainly outperform a cheap one.

Myth 5

They're mileage munchers.

Fact: A quality Bandag retread delivers mileage on par with many new tires.

Just as new tire mileage varies widely, so does retread mileage. Suffice it to say that tread compounds, weight, design and casing structure all play a part.

Myth 6

Bad tread, bad casing.

Fact: A casing can still be good long after your tread wears.

Just because a tread wears down, it doesn’t mean the casing’s worn too. In fact, a quality casing has a life span that can outlive the original tread.

Myth 7

They plain don't perform.

Fact: Top competitors at major U.S. on- and off-road races tend to disagree.

High quality retreads are counted on everywhere from rugged off-road events to grueling 24-hour endurance races.

Myth 8

Heat kills them.

Fact: The notion that retreads fail on hot highways? An old truckers’ tale.

Few would argue that heat can destroy a tire, whether it’s new or a retread. But in most cases that failure is due to underinflation. Proper inflation is key, no matter the tire you’re running.

*All retread myths and realities were sourced through Randall Reilly Publishing and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC.