Comeback: Retreaded tires for passenger cars

Comeback: Retreaded tires for passenger cars

The use of retreaded tires is common practice in commercial vehicles; until recently, remanufactured tires had a niche existence in passenger cars and were mainly known to die-hard fans. But that is now changing thanks to consistent further development of the technology used. For example, the German Reifen Hinghaus GmbH invested a lot of development work in its redesigned King-Meiler premium tire. Our own test team continually tests the tires in every conceivable situation right up to their limits, making a decisive contribution to the enormous leap forward in development over the last few years. 

Retreaded tires receive support from an AZuR/DBU study by the Fraunhofer Institute Umsicht. “Compared to new tires, there are CO2 savings in passenger car tires in all scenarios,” says the study “Ecological Assessment of Retreading,” and further: “In addition to the CO2 balance, retreading has advantages in terms of resource conservation and disposal costs.” Measurements by the independent Nord testing laboratory as part of this study also showed that retreaded tires achieve the same rolling resistance class as the new tires on whose casings they are based. According to the ACV automobile club, retreaded tires meet the legal requirements for quality and safety and “can be driven without hesitation”. Only casings from premium brands are used to produce the retreaded King-Meiler premium tires in Northern Germany.

The positive studies, assessments and press reports, as well as the increasing environmental awareness among the population, contribute to polishing the image of retreaded tires. Retreaded tires are now considered a real, ecologically and economically advantageous alternative to expensive premium new tires. This is already having an impact on the sales figures and market share of retreaded tires in the passenger car sector, although there is still a lot of potential here. But given the ongoing image improvement and increasing attention, it seems only a matter of time before demand in Germany increases sustainably. An extensive range is already available and can be further expanded as demand increases. When buying retreaded tires, just as with new tires, it is recommended to pay attention to quality. Renowned and award-winning retreading companies in particular therefore demand that the brand be mentioned for retreaded tires, as has always been the case with new tires. Especially with regard to the identical two-year warranty for retreaded and new tires, each tire, whether retreaded or new, must be viewed individually.

Retreading is a process that has been tried and tested and continually developed for over 100 years. The high-quality tire base (carcass) is reused, which, in addition to CO2 emissions, also avoids waste, conserves natural resources and contributes to a sustainable circular economy. After previous processing, the treads and sidewalls of worn tires are renewed using the latest technology. The highest quality rubber compounds are used, which are optimized for seasonal tire use. Development engineers, who also work for the new tire industry, ensure that continuous improvements and optimizations are made. The tires go through numerous safety and quality checks and, like new tires, meet ECE R108/109. Retreaded tires are manufactured for almost all types of vehicles and areas of application. While car tires are retreaded once, commercial vehicle tires go through the process up to three times and aircraft tires go through the process up to twelve times.