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Commercial Tires: Retread vs. New
Where retreads make sense for fleets and where to use new.
Cost per mile
A quality casing can be retreaded several times, lowering cost per mile on drive and trailer positions.
Steer axle
Federal rules prohibit retreads on the steer axle of buses. Most fleets run new tires on steer positions of trucks as well.
Casing management
Retreading depends on healthy casings: correct inflation, prompt repairs and pulling tires before damage reaches the belts.
When to go new
Use new tires for steer, for vehicles with irregular duty, or when a fleet lacks a casing program.