Retreadability, of course. And the way we talk about it so often, you might think we believe it’s next to cleanliness and Godliness (on the other side, of course). Retreadability is a big priority for us at Bridgestone. That’s part of the reason why, for 14 straight years, America’s retreaders have given us their highest acclaim. But what is retreadability, and how can you maximize it in your operation? We’ll look at those questions and others in the pages that follow.

What is “retreadability”?
You won’t find it in any ordinary dictionary, but “retreadability” simply means the extent to which the casing of a tire can be used to create a usable retread.

Who measures it?
In 1986, the American Retreaders Association (ARA) – now the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) – began asking members their opinions on the quality of the truck tire casings they received. With modifications and revisions, the survey has been repeated each year since.

And the results?
For every one of the past 14 years, Bridgestone casings have been ranked #1.* The wording has changed over the years, but at various times, it was for “casing quality,” “retreadability” – and for the past three years, “casing durability” among “Over-The-Road/Long-Haul Tires.”
In 1999, retreaders also rated Bridgestone #1 for “ease of retreading,” while fleets gave Bridgestone “Over-The-Road/Long-Haul Tires” their top rating for casing durability.

*Tire Retreading/Repair Journal surveys, 1986-1999; tied with another manufacturer 1987 & 1991.

Is retreadability all in the casing?
Not at all. In fact, much of it depends on the care the tire gets. The enemies of retreadability are heat, fatigue and rust. The way to fight them is with good care, effective maintenance and proper repairs.
Drivers can make a big contribution by avoiding curbing, which can kink, bend or even break steel cords. They can also avoid excessive speed and overloading, which can generate excessive heat that prematurely ages rubber components.

Somehow, we’re guessing you’re going to mention inflation pressure maintenance.
Absolutely. There’s almost nothing you can do that will do more good for your tires than maintaining the right inflation pressure. And, almost nothing that is so inexpensive. The right inflation pressure maximizes tread wear, for long, low-cost miles, and minimizes casing fatigue and heat, for retreadability – while optimizing ride and traction.

How do repairs figure into this?
Any time the steel structure of the tire is exposed, as a result of a puncture or other damage, rust can begin to destroy your casing. That means you should never use cheap, "string" repairs. Every repairable puncture should be repaired using both a plug and patch, or an integrated plug/patch unit. And, before any repair is done, every bit of rust must be removed.

Why is that?
Because "rust never sleeps." The tiniest bit can spread, working day and night, year-round. Steel is strong and resilient, while rust is anything but. And, because rust is so insidious, any time you make a repair, you need to remove the tire from the wheel and fully inspect it, inside and out, to make sure any damage that could let air and moisture get to the cords is repaired.

What harm do sunlight and oil do?
Sunlight can accelerate the effects of oxygen and ozone, causing rubber to deteriorate. We put special chemicals into the rubber to slow these effects, but nothing lasts forever. So if you’re going to

store tires, a shaded area is best. And, fuel and oil can cause rubber to disintegrate. Keep stored tires away from them and use only petroleum-free mounting lubricants.

How important is retreadability to the trucking industry?
There will be about 13 million new truck tires sold in the U.S. this year. But, truckers will buy about 18 million retreads. So well over half the nation’s truck tires are retreads. That makes retreadability very important.

Aren’t most of those roadside “alligators” the result of retreading?
Actually, no. In most cases, they’re the result of underinflation. Too little inflation pressure for the load makes a tire run too hot. Too much heat can literally cause a tire to come apart. This can happen to any tire, retreaded or not. In fact, some of those roadside alligators are from tires that have never been retreaded. Underinflation can result from maintenance neglect, but also from punctures and other damage. And, when a tire comes apart, its retreadability is zero.

How can we maximize retreadability?

Combine those things with a good quality casing, and you may postpone your tires’ retirement – for a long time.

Editor’s Note: Our thanks to the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association, Tire Retread Information Bureau and the International Tire & Rubber Association for information used in preparing this article.