The Nordic countries have a long tradition of recapping tyres.
This helps to curb the fleet maintenance costs, but more importantly, it is an easy way to reduce emissions. There is no reason to discard a tyre as soon as it is worn out. Tyres are designed to withstand retreading. The quality of retreaded tyres holds up to comparison with new tyres, with performance at least as good, if not better.
Tyre retreading, also known as recapping, is a way to extend the life of a tyre by reusing old, worn tyres. When the tread is no longer effective, it is removed and a new tread can be applied to the casing. There are several tread patterns for different applications, and each pattern is available in different widths. There is a suitable tread for every tyre and tyre casing. Tyre dealers have the expertise to recommend the right pattern for your application.
High-quality tyres can be recapped several times. As a result, the same tyre can be used for up to a million kilometres before it is discarded at the end of its lifespan. But why is retreading a good idea? There are three main benefits to retreading tyres:
- Material cost savings
- Reduced environmental impact
- Safe and reliable tyres after retreading
Tyre retreading is an integral part of smart and well-optimized tyre lifecycle management. The average weight of a new truck tyre is 70 kg, while a tread weighs less than 20 kg. Retreading saves a significant amount of raw materials. Two retreads with the same quality casing can save up to 50% on tyre costs which makes it a much cheaper alternative to a new set of tyres.
Saving money goes hand in hand with saving the environment. Tyre manufacturing is energy-intensive and it requires non-renewable raw materials. However, the carbon dioxide emissions inevitably caused by tyre manufacturing can be minimized. Research shows that the carbon footprint of manufacturing a retreaded tyre is about a quarter of the carbon footprint of manufacturing a new tyre. The positive impact on the environment is even greater when the same tyre is retreaded more than once.
The savings come from the use of fewer raw materials and shorter transportation distances. Retreading is a very local activity. The distances between the transport of casings to the retreader and the transport of the retreaded tyre to the end user are short.
There are common misconceptions about retread tyres, but experience, equipment and materials have improved over the years – quality and techniques have evolved. All the recap professionals do a quality job, regardless of the retreader or materials used. A retreaded tyre is a reliable and recommended choice for transportation applications. Tyres are safe and reliable after retreading when they are retreaded with quality casings by professionals using quality materials. The properties are the same as a new tyre.
It is worth noting that retreading quality tyres is actually safer than buying cheap new tyres. The traction and driving qualities of the tyres are better with premium treads than with cheap tyres.
Nokian Tyres Noktop is a highly standardized retreading method. Nokian Tyres retreading materials are developed and manufactured in Finland and the only Nordic treads. They are specially designed for Nordic use. Source