Retreading

When a tyre wears down, it is usually only the tread pattern that wears away first. In Finland, almost every tyre used on heavy vehicles and large industrial machines is retreaded one to three times. This gives a tyre carcass in good condition a new life.

A new tread significantly extends the service life of a heavy-duty tyre

The larger the tyre, the more worthwhile it is, both economically and environmentally, to use it for as long as possible.

Most of the natural resources and energy required to make a tyre go into manufacturing the tyre carcass. When a tyre is retreaded, the material saving compared with a new tyre is around 70 per cent and the CO2 saving is 24 per cent.

In use, the tyre’s tread wears down and the grooves become shallower, until the tyre is no longer safe to use. In retreading, the old tread is mechanically buffed away. A new tread is then first bonded and then vulcanised onto the tyre carcass. The result is a retreaded tyre that withstands use just as well as a new tyre.

There would also be a place for retreading passenger car tyres

High-quality passenger car tyre carcasses could also withstand retreading, just like heavy-duty tyres. Unfortunately, cheap tyres imported even from the other side of the world have severely weakened passenger car tyre retreading operations in Finland. Retreading saves significant natural resources and creates local jobs. 

Production of retreaded tyres could also be increased for passenger car tyres through consumer demand and legislation that supports the circular economy.