retreads

[FishRunner]

So i have a buddy who swears by retreads
he just got new BF A/T KO for $257 out the door

I was pretty unsure about the whole retread thing... but from what i have been reading, it might be an option

anyone have any experience with retreads?

retread FAQs

article


this company has had great reviews and a few threads on yotatech

 

[techno]

I bought retreads once and will NEVER EVER get them again no matter who does them. They were 31x10.5 Bridgestone Desert Dueler carcasses with an identical tread pattern retread. First off, they were extremely hard to balance. Then on the road they sort of 'floated' from side to side, like what happens when you're on tramtracks in the road. After three months one started to delaminate so I made that my spare. After six months ALL the tires had started to delaminate and deform and they were just downright dangerous. My driving was 50/50 on/off road. I removed them and gave them away to a friend who used them on his offroad camper trailer. One of them actually exploded and shredded itself a few weeks later.
You know when you are driving along the interstate and you see big chunks of tire on the sides of the road (and sometimes in the lanes)? Retreads.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

You get what you pay for but IMO I wouldn't skimp on something as important as tires.

Yes,you do hear about truckers using them all the time but they only use them on certain axles and they have 18 so if one blows it's no biggie but when you only have 4 on the road I just wouldn't trust a retread.

 

[HB 4X4]

I saw a "How it's made" on how they make these, and honestly, I would not buy them. Especially now after all you hear about old tires causing serious accidents. Even if the tread is new, I would not trust the rest of the tire.

The process does look pretty extensive, and I am sure works fine for some; however, if you ever plan on doing any offroading, or pretty much anything other than driving to the store or mall, I would not skimp on tires.

Never skimp on rubbers, or you'll end up paying for it. :bigok:

 

[p nut]

Not a good idea. :bash: Despite what your friend says.

 

[Kmvreter]

I agree with the articles referenced by the OP. The vast magority of "gators" are actually original tread structure that have seperated or blown (mainly due to poor maintenance.) Retreading has been applied to heavy truck tires by design. Heavy truck casings are designed with the potential for retreading. Fleets will run their good rubber out on the steers and drives and then use those casings with retreads on the trailers, where ride also doesn't matter.
Keep in mind that retreads are illegal on the front steer axle positions.
But all of this applies to heavy commercial size tires. I wouldn't trust retreading smaller LT sizes and definitely not P tires. The casings aren't designed for it. Notice most of the small retreads are M/T or A/T where harsher ride really doesn't matter and they assume you aren't flying along down the freeway building up heat in the tire.
You get what you pay for. So save your money in the long term by getting longer running fresh tires.

 

[CO_FlyFisher]

STAY AWAY FROM RETREADS!!!

(sorry for the caps, but this is serious business)

 

[FishRunner]

funny... almost everywhere else i have read the oposite of what people have replied. What you see on the road is not due to faulty retreads, but poor upkeep on origninal tires and retreads alike... truckers know it they throw treads there is still a tire underneath and run past treadlife and not the the correct psi

rubber meets the road, and it would take a lot for me to do retread

but cops, busses, military, and all gov cars and trucks are mandated to run retreads

Kmvreter
good point on the truck tires being factory manufactured to be retreaded

techno
did you get them here in the burgh? where/how did they start to fail? Just 1 or all 4? I have heard that shitty (tread just glued and slapped on) ones are real hard to balance out

HB
everything i read, said they need to be run a recomended psi so offroading at 10 is no good

4wheeler did an article praising them in all uses but when underinflated they tested poorly... yotatech guys who have them all have said pretty good things
just trying to get some info, most likely will be getting NEW tires in a month or so

 

[techno]

I did not get mine here, I had them when I lived in Australia. (I've bought all my tires in Pittsburgh off the internet.) All four ended up bad. The first sign of failure on mine was bulging of the tread in one area, making the tire no longer round. It was like there was a big air bubble underneath.
I'm sure there are positive experiences and stories out there, but for me it has been negative, and most people I know who off road alot avoid them like the plague. And remember, the articles you read trying to dispel retread 'myths' are written by retread companies...

 

[XJeepguy]

I worked for a Bandag shop for 16 years , it was 90 % truck and 10 % light truck . I wouldn't run a retread from just any company , truck retread or LT product . Where I worked the entire process was VERY professional . Everything is scanned with a specialized machine that tests casing integrity before its even considered for retreading . AND I have visited other independent shops where I wouldn't let them touch a tire with a 10 foot pole . Dirt all over the tires prior to tread application , out of round casing buffing etc.. Terrible !

http://bandag.com/download/TireProducts/Bandag_Retread_System.pdf

 

[giguchan]

I Dated one once...
ok twice....
Like tires... I will NEVER do that again! you take your chances!! you also get what you pay for.. there is a reason they are so cheap.... and it ain't because the salesman likes you.