Retread tires, anyone have experience?

[Yachtcare]

Anybody have opinions, good or bad?

Thinking about "Treadwright" retreads. With the "Kedge Grip" additives for the truck in my sig.

Also was thinking about trying to find someone that can do retreads onto a load range G carcass. Those are typically "ST" (special trailer) tires with the stouter sidewall to handle a higher weight rating. As the carcass needs a new Highway vehicle tread grafted onto it anyway, why couldn't this be done?

Thinking I'd like to run the load range G's in the back , and some standard load E's in the front.

BTW, we're talking 235/85 16's here.

 

[DieselCash]

There is a link on here for treadwright's.

Do a search and a few threads will appear.

 

[btfarm]

BIL and a couple of Nephews have had good results with Treadwrights

 

[Ed HD]

You're going to over-load your trans, cooling system and brakes long before you over-load 4 LR E tires...

 

[Will L.]

I ran a lot of retreads in fleets. I will NEVER run retreads on steer tires again. Only run retreads on something where body damage does not scare you. 1 out of every 10,000 retreads throw the tread. It will do it on a hot day on the highway under a load (murphy's law). When it throws the tread it will cause body damage. The only question is are you the unlucky guy that gets the 1bad one.

 

[NVW]

Up here it is illegal to run them on steer tires.

Had the thread come off a 10.00x20 rear tire on my grain truck. The slap it made on the pavement will wake you up.

 

[Will L.]

Passenger vehicles it was legal here (at least 20 years ago) idk about now. I will never run them on anything I own, how much do you save on a set, vs how much it costs to repair the damage when it goes wrong. On company rigs that got worn out in a few years, yeah.

And yeah a tire slap will get your attention quick. Do not miss the 10.00 -20 split rims. (Says the idiot with the 2 piece hmmwv wheels w/ the run flat bead locks).

 

[trouttrooper]

I've had treadwrights on my truck for a few years now. One did end up with a bubble in the tread section. Treadwright did replace it although communication with them was slow. Frankly for me the failure rate of those tires is right on par with the failure rate I've had with new tires.

 

[tanman_2006]

I have one in 8 tires fail due to a bubble or slipped belt. If treadwright has a similar rep then why not? Both sides of my 06 LBZ have blown in the rear, ripped both fender flares off but the bed looked ok after a hammer and dolly found their way to the sheet metal, good thing it will be getting a flat bed someday anyways.

 

[Yachtcare]

Yeah, I'm a liittle leery about putting retreads up front. But the price of four across the rear would save enough to go good quality for the front end. Thinking Yokohama at/s up there.
My extension fenders have been patched up, and glued back together enough times if one got trashed I could put it together again, or finally have a good excuse to go get a new one. I do carry a good spare. Most of what I've read about the treadwrights seems like they might be worth the chance for the price.

 

[Diesel Nut]

I know a guy that wanted to save money on tires and got 6 retread on his dodge dually. A few months later he ended up putting a flat bed on his truck after the tread came off and ripped one side of the box apart. It was just a little more for a flat bed then to repair his box. Coming from the trucking world, if you have someone that knows what they are doing when they retread they are as good as new tires. But when they fail to do the job right, like not fixing nails in the core. You have big issues later on, like the tread may start to separated from the casing due to air going in between the casing and the retread, from the little hole that was left from the nail.

 

[NVW]

I don't know if retreads can be used as steering tires on passenger vehicles. The last time I got steering tires on my grain truck the tire shop said they had to be new.

 

[Will L.]

I spoke to a Nevada DOT guy today, and he said class 7 and heavier steer tires being retread was illegal since the 70's. They made it illegal for retreaded steers on anything in Nv in the mid 90's. There is a push to outlaw them all together on commercial vehicles, but they have tried before and failed. NDOT inspectors are Nevada Hiway Patrol officers. He said he has red tagged a car before for it (retread steer tires).
I hope they can not pass that law. I won't run them on my rig, but everyone should have the option.

One other thing he cautioned me on is some insurance is voided by running them at all. Something to look into.

 

[Diesel Nut]

To put the law part to rest if you have your everyday vehicle that is not under dot regulations or inspections you can run the retreads in all posistion. Class 8 trucks and anyone that has DOT numbers or is subjected to inspection it is 100% illegal to run retreads on the steer axle. Drive axles and trailer axles are allowed. Here is the tricky part if you have a push or tag axle that turns under pressure of the truck but is not considered a steer axle and they can use retreads. We put them on some farm trucks in a shop I worked in. That was what I was told, and I trust my Forman.

 

[Big T]

I have 11K miles on TreadWright E rated Wardens on my '99 Suburban. No problems. They're wearing about the same as original BFG ATs, which means I'll get 35K miles out of them.

Last year around the 4th of July weekend they sent an e-mail for 1/2 off shipping. Register on their site and get on their list. BTW they moved the shop to Houston which is right in Leroy's backyard. Houston, where AC is essential.