Tips on managing retreaded tires

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Shredded truck tires, or ‘road gators’ spotted along the highway are usually the result of poor maintenance and carelessness, not retreading, according to a major Latin American retreader and several tire organizations, including the US-based Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau.

Use reputable retreaders to ensure performance and reliability are not compromised.
Use reputable retreaders to ensure performance and reliability are not compromised.

The groups claim retreaded tires are just as reliable as new products. However, poor maintenance, overloading and running improper tire pressures will result in failures of new or retreaded tires.

The groups cited a Virginia State Police Department study that found 86% of ‘road gators’ resulted from pressure levels that were below the recommended amount.

Speeding and overloading the tires were other contributing factors, the study found.

Latin American retreader Vipal, provided these tips on maintaining new and retreaded tires:

  • Periodically calibrate tires when they are cold and use the recommended pressures.
  • Use nitrogen to calibrate tires.
  • Periodically rotate the tires.
  • Always keep the wheels clean, free of rust and in good condition.
  • Perform periodical inspections to control tread wear.
  • Periodically balance and align the tires.
  • Mount and dismount the tires with the adequate tools.
  • Remove the tire to be retreaded at the right time.
  • Apply tire and inner tube repairs with the adequate products and skilled labor.
  • Go to authorized retreaders who offer quality products and a service guarantee for the retreading process.
  • Do not overload the vehicle.
  • Use the brakes appropriately.
  • Choose the type of tread design that is appropriate for the vehicle in question.  Each type of land requires a specific type of tread.
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