Retreading in the future

This article examines the future of the retreading industry. Truck retreading forecasts are very encouraging considering that some 13 million truck tire units were retreaded in 1983 and 1984--and will be even better with projections in the area of 13.8-14.5 million units. The exciting thing in truck retreading is the great acceptance and increase in radials by the trucking industry. The higher initial cost of the radial tire has proven to pay for itself in fuel savings as well as greater retreadability. Passenger retreading is currently of great concern. Pricing has become so competitive on new passenger radials that a retreaded radial is no longer 50 to 60 percent of the cost of a new tire but closer to 70 to 85 percent. Passenger retreaders who have not yet updated their equipment for radial retreading will most likely be out of business by the end of 1984. Passenger retreading is a sleeping giant--in-plant efficiencies must improve, production costs must be reduced, and marketing and selling must be tackled as never before.