TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) has responded to a bill introduced by Florida State Senator Victor D. Crist that would prohibit the use of retreaded tires on most commercial vehicles on Florida highways.

The state bill, S912, “prohibits the use of recapped or retreaded tires on truck tractors, pole trailers or semi-trailers operated on public roads, streets, or highways of this state.” If approved, the ban would take effect July 1, 2007, according to Harvey Brodsky, managing director of TRIB.

Much of the tire debris on highways comes from tires
that have never been retreaded says TRIB.

“We believe this bill would greatly impede the retread and trucking industry in Florida and would create havoc with out of state trucks coming into Florida,” Brodsky wrote in an email to Crist.

Brodsky acknowledged some concerns legislators and citizens may have over the large amount of tire debris found on Florida highways, but stressed much of the industry shares those concerns and spends an enormous amount of time and resources to educate truckers and other motorists on the importance of properly maintaining their tires.

“We do this because the true cause of tire debris on highways everywhere is improper tire maintenance. Tires that are improperly maintained — underinflated, overloaded, mismatched on dual wheel positions, misaligned — will fail and come apart, given enough time. And it doesn’t matter whether the tire is a retread or one that has never been retreaded.

Much of the tire debris on highways comes from tires that have never been retreaded, Brodsky explained. “To blame retreads for tire debris on our highways is the same as blaming a vehicle for an accident caused by a drunk driver. The blame is simply misplaced, and to outlaw the use of retreads on Florida highways falls into the same category.”

Brodsky also pointed out that many other states are moving in the opposite direction by encouraging retreads. There is a federal executive order (13149) that mandates the use of retread tires on most federal fleet vehicles. And, he added, California just awarded a $75,000 grant to TRIB to promote the use of retreaded tires on public sector vehicles throughout that state.