Overview
For most fleets, tires represent the
third largest item in the operating budget, right after labor and
fuel. When vehicle tires have become worn, many can be refurbished
with new tread. Retreading bonds new tread to the tire body using a
process very similar to the manufacture of a new tire. This not only
saves on the cost of having to dispose of the tire, but also saves
30% to 50% of the cost to purchase a new one.
Retread tires have been used
successfully on fleet vehicles such as school buses (as rear tires),
trucks, and airplanes for many years. In fact, approximately 80% of
all aircraft tires in service in the U.S., including those used on
Air Force One, are retreads. In most applications, retread tires can
be driven under the same conditions and at the same speeds as new
tires, with no loss in safety or comfort.
Laws & Guidelines
Executive Order 13101 requires
federal agencies to use retread tires to the maximum extent
feasible. State and local governments are encouraged to follow this
directive.
Minnesota law restricts the storage
and disposal of waste tires. By having used tires retreaded, your
agency avoids the costs of tire disposal and receives a usable tire
in return.
Performance
It is a myth that retreads have a
higher failure rate than new tires. In
fact, failures in both retread and new tires are most often caused
by overloading, under-inflation, or other abuse. New or retread tire failures can be greatly reduced by
following all the rules of good maintenance, including proper mating
with regard to diameter, tread depth, and design; maintaining proper
air pressure; and
establishing a rotation schedule.
Processed according to the Federal
Safety Standards developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation,
retread tires can be driven at the same speeds as new tires with no
loss in safety or comfort. With proper maintenance and care, they
deliver about the same mileage as new tires, too.
Availability
Over 30 million tires are retread
each year, representing sales of over $2 billion. Retreads are
available through a state contract or through local tire
distributors.
Cost
Many tires can be repeatedly
retreaded, avoiding the disposal costs of the tires. Retread tires
are typically 30% to 50% less expensive than new
tires. For example, the average price of a retread for a light truck
tire is $60, while the price of a new tire of the same size can
reach $100 or more.
Specifications
Procedures described in
the state contract determine
the condition of tire casings that are acceptable for retreading.
See Vendors. Specifications in the contract include methods, procedures, and
acceptable commercial practices for retreading tires. Use these
specifications as guidelines when putting together solicitations for
retreading services.
Contact the Minnesota Department of
Administration, Materials Management Division (MMD) at 651/296-2600
for a copy of the contract. If you are a state agency or a local
government subscriber with an access code, you may also view the
contract on the MMD web site.
Vendors
Minnesota State Contracts
There is a state contract for retread service for on- and
off-road tires. See
Cooperative Purchasing Venture for
information on accessing this contract.
Other Vendors
Below is a list of known retread tire retailers in the metro
area. For additional vendors, look in the Yellow Pages under
"Tire Retread and Repair," or ask your local distributor.
Bauer Built Tire and Battery
St. Paul, MN
651/646-1239
Blaine, MN
763/780-4644
M-B Tire Company, Inc.
Newport, MN
651/459-9101
Northwestern Tire Company, Inc.
St. Paul, MN
651/224-4359
Pomp's Tire Service, Inc.
Savage, MN
952/894-8846
Blaine,
MN
763 785-1294
Inver Grove Heights, MN
651 480-7900
Royal Tire,
Inc.*
St.
Cloud,
MN
800/892-7018
*Royal
Tire has 13 locations in Minnesota. See
Royal Tire's web site for dealer locations and information about
retread tires.
Resources
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
MPCA is a state agency that provides information and assistance on
pollution preventionAn activity that diminishes or reduces the use, generation, or release of hazardous waste or release of toxic pollutants, hazardous substances, and hazardous waste into the environment. (Minnesota Statutes § 115D.03, Subd. 8) practices to ensure compliance with state and
federal regulations involving air quality, surface and groundwater,
and solid and hazardous wasteAny refuse, sludge, or other waste materials or combinations or refuse, sludge, or other waste materials in solid, semisolid, liquid, or contained gaseous form which because of its quantity, concentration, or chemical, physical, or infectious characteristics may: (a) cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or (b) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed. Categories of hazardous waste materials include, but are not limited to: explosives, flammables, oxidizers, poisons, irritants, and corrosives. Hazardous waste does not include source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Minnesota Statutes § 116.06, Subd. 11.. For information on how to manage used
antifreeze, see the August 2004 Managing
Waste Antifreeze fact sheet.
The fact sheets "Managing
Solvent-Based Parts Washers" and "Managing
Aqueous-Based Parts Washers" are available online.
Paper copies are available by calling the MPCA.
For more information on
managing tire waste, see the "Managing
Waste Tires" fact sheet.
Download the fact sheet "Treated
Wood: Use, Disposal and Alternatives for Businesses."
Success Stories
Retread tires
For over two years, the Northwest
District of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has
been using retread tires on its maintenance trucks. Retreads are
used on the rear wheels of 75 snowplow trucks, as well as on loaders
and mower tractors. The District's inventory center uses the state
contract to buy the retreads. Purchaser Jane Olson says, "My
co-workers in the shop are satisfied with the product, and I'm
happy because it saves money in comparison with buying new
tires."
Mn/DOT District 2 Maintenance Shop
Cliff Moening, Sub-Area Foreman
218/755-3799
