Some airlines may pay for their tyres by the retreads. There is an initial payment for the virgin tyre, and then a subsequent payment for the initial retread and further payments until the tyre account is settled. If the tyre fails prior to the final payment being made, then the tyre manufacturer wears the cost.
The secret (not so secret really!) to a successful retread programme is the pressure maintenance regime. If the appropriate pressures are applied to the tyre during its initial life, then we are able to deliver a sound virgin casing/carcass to the retreading plant.
In speaking with so many retreading facilities, they all detail a high rejection rate of casings submitted for retreading. The primary reason for rejection is the breakdown of the tyre’s structure as a result of under inflation.
So how does this affect the use of resources and subsequent emissions?
I have sighted figures purported to have been produced by the global accounting firm Ernst & Young (now EY), which detail a 70 percent reduction in natural resource extraction, 19 percent reduction in water consumption (potable water is one of the next global issues to deal with) and 21 percent reduction in air pollution. A truck tyre casing (say 11R22.5) that is retreaded will reduce oil consumption by about 50 litres – obviously more for a larger tyre.
Many tyre OEMs do promote the retreadability of their casings; it is just plain economic sense when you stop to think about it. Acquiring a product where you use 30 percent (by weight) only to then throw the rest onto the scrap pile is economic stupidity, but that is what seems to happen in most road transport organisations.
Maintaining tyre inflation pressures is too difficult, they say. Well, yes, if you are stuck in the 1950s where the only way to check inflation pressure was to use a manual gauge. In the 2000s, we started using tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to gain real time information about tyres in operation. Now we can stream data and identify issues such as binding brakes, wheel ends in failure mode as well as inappropriately inflated tyres. We’ve tuned operating tyres so that tyres operate in unison or as a team across an axle and so over the entire vehicle. Not being able to view tyre pressures in real time is so last century.
By tuning the inflation pressure of a tyre, the structural integrity can be assured so that when the tread worn tyre is presented at the retreading facility, it is accepted rather than rejected. Thus, a serious saving in resource use is generated; there is a substantial reduction in emissions as well as reduction in land use both from the initial growing of the natural rubber to the reduction of land fill.
A simple act can generate substantial savings. Why do so many educated people ignore this aspect? Why do bean counters not consider tyres in a holistic manner?
Purchasing a ’cheap’ tyre may appear to ‘save money’, but more often than not, the cost of operations actually rises. HOW? I hear the abacus jockeys cry! A low-cost tyre more often than not has a higher rolling resistance than a quality casing. Research and development costs, low cost operators that have copied or cloned don’t bear these costs. Consider the fuel burn over the life of a tyre, say 150,000 km. A two percent saving on the fuel burn equates to how much? When we consider the actual life of the low-cost tyre, more than likely it requires more maintenance, so there is more downtime, added rotations to gain the maximum wear from the tread package and then there is the disposal fee on the spent casing as it cannot be retreaded.
Considering tyres in a holistic manner is not something bean counters consider or actually even know about. Tyres directly influence the fuel burn of a vehicle, the wheel end life and the suspension life, even affecting the driver’s fatigue levels – not to consider the environmental aspects such as emissions and disposal.
So if an aircraft can take off and land safely on retreaded tyres, then why can’t on-road transport trucks use retreaded casings? It comes back to the neglect shown to the tyre during the initial life. It seems that people just don’t care; they don’t understand the criticality of appropriate tyre inflation pressures.
Within the Performance Based Standards for high performance trucks operating on Australian roads (think triple trailers running quad axles), there is a statement that succinctly details what a tyre contributes, to wit ;
“All the forces needed to both support and guide a vehicle ultimately arise in the area of contact between the tyre and the roadway. These forces are generated at the road surface in response to the deformation of the tyre structure.”
As tyre deformation is the product of inflation levels, there is a direct relationship between tyre inflation levels and vehicle safety. Why do people choose to ignore tyre inflation when it is so easy to monitor and comes with so many positive benefits?
So installing a simple regime of monitoring tyres in real time tyre casings to evidence that the tyres have not experienced a low pressure event (so destroying the casing’s integrity) means they can be selected for retreading. This eliminates the main excuse for not retreading, i.e. the rejection rate is too high. It is that simple!
A cheap tyre is not necessarily an economic positive. A well-maintained quality tyre will generate savings upon savings and then will also be able to do it all over again after retreading.
Many governments mandate the use of retreaded tyres on utility vehicles as it is well understood there is not only an economic benefit but an environmental benefit too!
If we, the global community, continue to consume resources without considering a reduction in the rate of consumption, then we’re doomed to exhaustion. Using a resource (read tyre) at only 30 percent and then disposing it of does not make any sense (nor cents!). Retreading of tyres is a sound practice based upon sound science. Why are so many businesses throwing their hard earned cash away because the abacus jockeys don’t know and don’t care about tyres?
Success does not reward a lack of effort. How much effort are your bean counters making in respect of tyres ?
CEAT Cuts Tyre Prices Across Portfolio Following GST Rate Reduction
- By TT News
- September 12, 2025
Indian tyre maker to pass full benefit of tax cuts to customers from 22 September
CEAT Limited said on Thursday it would reduce prices across its entire tyre range following the Indian government’s decision to cut goods and services tax (GST) rates on tyres, with the full benefit being passed on to customers.
The Mumbai-based tyre manufacturer said new prices would take effect from 22 September, covering commercial, agricultural, passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments.
India’s 56th GST Council meeting approved significant reductions in tax rates for the tyre industry. GST on new pneumatic tyres was cut to 18% from 28%, whilst tractor tyres and tubes will attract a reduced rate of 5%.
“We thank the Government of India and the GST Council for their timely and progressive decision to rationalise tax rates in the tyre sector,” said Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO of CEAT Limited.
“The reduced GST slabs will greatly benefit the tyre industry and consumers alike. Not only will it lower the cost of owning and operating a vehicle for customers across various segments, but by making tyres more affordable to replace, it will also make our roads safer.”
Banerjee added the move would “spur formalisation and greater compliance, while also fostering sustainable growth in the sector.”
The GST rate cuts represent a significant policy shift for India’s automotive sector, where high taxation has been a longstanding concern for manufacturers and consumers.
Yokohama Rubber Recognised As ‘DX Certified Business Operator’ By Japan’s METI
- By TT News
- September 12, 2025
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been officially recognised as a DX Certified Business Operator by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The designation, which was granted on 1 September 2025, identifies companies that are thoroughly prepared for digital transformation as outlined by the Digital Governance Code.
This certification acknowledges Yokohama Rubber's comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, which is built on three core objectives: advancing business strategy, contributing to sustainability and reinforcing its IT infrastructure. Central to this effort is the company's proprietary AI framework, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), which drives group-wide digital initiatives. These include improving productivity, innovating processes, developing digital talent and building a global cloud-based IT system. The certification confirms that the company's efforts not only meet METI's stringent criteria but also demonstrate appropriate disclosure of information to its stakeholders.
Moving forward, the company said it will continue to leverage data from its entire value chain to adapt to a dynamic business environment. The company aims to enhance customer value, pursue sustainable innovation and transform its corporate culture to strengthen its competitive position and ensure long-term growth.
RPG Group’s TyresNmore Elevates Rakesh Tatikonda To Chief Executive Role
- By TT News
- September 11, 2025
TyresNmore, the automotive aftermarket e-commerce platform owned by RPG Group, has promoted Rakesh Tatikonda to Chief Executive Officer and announced the change with immediate effect.
Tatikonda, who previously oversaw business operations at the Mumbai-based firm, will spearhead the organisation’s expansion and innovation strategy. The appointment advances RPG Group’s ‘Talent First!’ policy, which rewards internal promotions and develops employees.
The new chief executive brings over 15 years of industry experience, having worked across multiple sectors with companies such as telecommunications giant Reliance Jio and IT services provider Infosys. Before joining TyresNmore in 2022, Tatikonda held senior positions at tyre manufacturer CEAT, where he developed expertise in strategy, operations, marketing and digital transformation.
“My aim is to transform automotive aftercare in India by offering seamless, tech-driven, end-to-end mobility solutions delivered with trust, transparency, and convenience right at the customer’s doorstep,” Tatikonda said in a statement.
TyresNmore operates a doorstep service model for tyre and battery replacement across six major Indian cities: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The platform represents RPG Group’s entry into the growing automotive aftermarket sector, which has seen increased digitisation as consumers seek convenient maintenance solutions.
During his tenure in operations, Tatikonda scaled the business and improved profitability while driving digital transformation initiatives. His track record shows he strengthened operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience in the mobility convenience sector.
Vaculug Acquires Scotland's Tyrefair To Drive Northern Expansion
- By TT News
- September 11, 2025
Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader producing high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres for fleets across the UK and Europe, has expanded its UK presence by acquiring Tyrefair in Kinross, Scotland.
This strategic acquisition extends the company's award-winning service further north, ensuring Scottish customers receive the same high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres Vaculug has supplied for 75 years. Since the purchase, the Kinross location has already grown by 25 percent, with an ambitious target to double its business within a year and then double it again.
This move is a key part of Vaculug's 2026 growth strategy, focused on strategic acquisitions that enable better, faster and more sustainable customer service. The acquisition reinforces Vaculug’s long-standing environmental mission, marking a new chapter of sustainable growth with a strengthened Scottish operation.
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