Myths and misconceptions: what is the truth about retread tyres?

In a market where every penny counts, UK truck fleets are understandably focused on tyres that offer dependable mileage and good value. Yet the very option that can deliver both – quality retreads – continues to be overlooked.

In a recent survey of more than 700 UK-based commercial vehicle fleets, Continental Tyres found that the results painted a revealing picture of operator priorities. More than half of respondents (56.7%) selected mileage performance as one of the most important criteria when choosing tyres, while similar numbers (56.3%) highlighted the retail price.

Other key decision points were damage resistance (51.6%) and whole-life ownership costs (50.2%). These are practical, operationally driven considerations, no surprise in a fiercely competitive industry where tyres represent significant cost.

However, additional data from the same survey showed that two-thirds of fleets (66.9%) exclusively fit new tyres. For many operators, the hesitation stems from perceived issues with quality, as 62.5% of respondents believe retreads may not have the quality of new tyres, while 46% question their durability.

These findings underline Continental’s determination to combat the misinformation and misconceptions around retreads. Pete Robb, Marketing Director at Continental Tyres, points out that fleets are actively seeking tyres that offer value for money, precisely the area where retreads excel.

He describes retreads as a “sweet spot” for many businesses, thanks to their lower purchase price and like-for-like mileage capabilities compared to an equivalent new tyre. Yet a historic reluctance persists, pushing fleets towards cheaper new tyres that may be single-use products and may not deliver the same operational benefits as high-quality retreads from a renowned manufacturer.

A retread tyre can have a lower retail price than its new equivalent, immediately reducing running costs. High-quality retreads may then be regrooved, extending their overall service life, and in many cases, the casing can be retreaded a second, sometimes third, time. Over the tyre’s lifetime, this can translate into hundreds of thousands of miles.

The sustainability benefits are equally significant. With hundreds of truck tyres replaced every day across the UK, the environmental burden of disposal is considerable. In a typical retread, up to 85% of the tyre uses recycled or renewable materials, and the process can save up to 55kg of waste per tyre in production.

Retread manufacturers invest heavily in research, development and engineering to ensure the final product meets stringent regulations. All retread tyre manufacturers must comply with the UN’s ECE Regulation 109, which ensures performance, dimensions and tyre wall markings are equivalent to those of a new tyre.

Within Continental’s own operations, ContiLifeCycle plants, where ContiRe and Bandvulc tyres are produced, adhere to ISO auditing criteria, ensuring consistently high production standards.

Modern retreads aren’t a compromise. Businesses are too often missing out on reducing their operating costs and enhancing their environmental credentials because of a perception that remanufactured tyres are inferior, when in fact they offer a compelling blend of performance, cost efficiency and sustainability.

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