Retread
Encyclopedia
A retread, or "recap," is a previously worn tire which has gone through a remanufacturing process designed to extend its useful service life
.
Retreading starts with a safety inspection of the tire. The old tread
is then buffed away, and a new rubber tread is applied to the bare "casing" using specialized machinery.
Retreads are significantly cheaper than new tires. As a result, they are widely used in large-scale operations such as trucking
, bus
ing and commercial aviation
. They are also the most environmentally friendly way of recycling used tires - in some applications, a tire can be retreaded up to 10 times. Recycled rubber from retreads can be shredded to make rubber mulch
. The process of "retreading" requires, after the buffing off of the old tread, there to be coating with another compound like rubber to allow the new tread to adhere to the used tire casing.
During World War II, the term "retread" was used to describe Army officers who had left the service before the war began for any reason (failure of promotion, medical disqualification, reduction in force, retirement, etc.), but who had been recalled to active duty in the Army Reserve for the duration of the war.
Service life
A product's service life is its expected lifetime, or the acceptable period of use in service. It is the time that any manufactured item can be expected to be 'serviceable' or supported by its manufacturer....
.
Retreading starts with a safety inspection of the tire. The old tread
Tread
The tread of a tire or track refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road. As tires are used, the tread is worn off, limiting its effectiveness in providing traction. A worn tire tread can often be retreaded. The word tread is often used incorrectly to refer to the...
is then buffed away, and a new rubber tread is applied to the bare "casing" using specialized machinery.
Retreads are significantly cheaper than new tires. As a result, they are widely used in large-scale operations such as trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
ing and commercial aviation
Commercial aviation
Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...
. They are also the most environmentally friendly way of recycling used tires - in some applications, a tire can be retreaded up to 10 times. Recycled rubber from retreads can be shredded to make rubber mulch
Rubber mulch
Rubber mulch is a type of mulch used in gardens and sustainable landscaping that is made from 100% recycled rubber.-Composition:Rubber mulch generally consists of either waste tire buffings or nuggets of rubber from tires that are ground up whole, after having their steel bands removed...
. The process of "retreading" requires, after the buffing off of the old tread, there to be coating with another compound like rubber to allow the new tread to adhere to the used tire casing.
During World War II, the term "retread" was used to describe Army officers who had left the service before the war began for any reason (failure of promotion, medical disqualification, reduction in force, retirement, etc.), but who had been recalled to active duty in the Army Reserve for the duration of the war.
External links
- Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau
- Tire DOT Codes
- "Worn-Out Auto Tires Rebuilt By New Process" Popular Science Monthly, March 1935