New vs. Retread Commercial Tires: Which is Right for Your Fleet?
The answer depends on your budget, commercial vehicle, fleet size and driving conditions. New and retread tires offer a variety of benefits, so it’s important to weigh your options before deciding which suits your needs.
How New and Retread Tires Are Manufactured
New tires are made from synthetic and natural rubber, steel, oil, chemicals and textile fabrics. Those materials create unique compounds for the tread, sidewall and casing and are cured after assembly. They receive visual and X-ray inspections to ensure uniformity and are tested to verify their performance.
The retread process focuses on buffing, replacing and applying new tread to an existing casing. Once a tire is inspected and deemed viable, the old tread is buffed away to create a smooth bonding surface. Necessary repairs are completed before the new tread is applied and molded under heat and pressure. Like new tires, retreads undergo a final inspection and testing process.
Comparing New and Retread Tires
Cost
New tires: You’ll likely spend more money on upfront costs when purchasing new commercial tires. It’s not unusual to pay $300 to $600 for a high-quality tire, especially if they include premium tread patterns and advanced compounds.
Retread tires: Because retreads save the original casing, you only pay for the cost of new tread, making them roughly 40% to 70% cheaper than a new product. They also provide long-term savings since you can retread one tire multiple times. That reduces the overall cost of ownership.
Durability and Performance
New tires: Brand-new tires offer unmatched durability because the fresh rubber is free of any wear. Depending on their composition and design, new commercial tires can withstand a variety of road conditions, temperatures and loads. They’re also less likely to sustain cuts and punctures.
Retread tires: A quality retread features similar durability and performance. Long-term exposure to heat and poor maintenance affect how a tire takes a new tread. That’s why it’s important to maintain proper inflation and implement a tire care program to keep your casings in good condition. And you can enjoy up to 90% of the mileage of a new tire without paying the price.
Sustainability
New tires: Due to the amount of raw materials needed during production, new tires generate a greater amount of waste. The resource extraction process also leads to deforestation and increased energy consumption. They pose an environmental risk in landfills, too, by taking up space and leaching chemicals into soil and groundwater.
Retread tires: Extending the life of your tires reduces the amount of waste in landfills, especially if you refurbish them multiple times. Producing retread tires requires fewer raw materials, decreasing the demand for limited resources and downsizing your carbon footprint.
When to Choose New Tires Over Retreads
New commercial tires are beneficial for vehicles that require enhanced fuel efficiency and optimized performance, including:
- Heavy-duty trucks
- Construction and off-road machinery
- Long-haul fleets
- Emergency vehicles
You may also want to invest in new tires if your fleet frequently operates in extreme temperatures and weather conditions. If you can’t verify the service history of a retread tire, you’re better off buying new and retreading down the line.
When Are Retreads a Smart Choice for Commercial Fleets?
Retread tires are best suited for:
- Highway driving
- Regional and short-haul fleets
- Transit and school buses
- Farm equipment
- Utility vehicles
Consider investing in retreads if you have high-quality tires that are free of damage and excess wear. It’s a good option for managing operational costs and optimizing fleet performance.
Quality Commercial Tires and Retreads from Bauer Built
Whether you’re looking for new commercial tires or retreads, Bauer Built has you covered. Learn about our nine-step retread process and find a location near you to schedule service.
Categories: Bauer Built Blog