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 ?

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TyreSafe has entered a new partnership with Staffordshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration aims to highlight the critical role tyres play in protecting road users by encouraging simple, regular checks of pressure, tread depth and overall condition.

The value of this preventative approach was recently demonstrated during a multi-agency enforcement operation at the DVSA Vehicle Inspection Site in Doxey. Held on 25 August, Operation Doxey involved Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police, DVSA, Datatag, the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit and TyreSafe. Inspectors directed 30 vehicles into the site, covering leisure vehicles, towing vehicles, light commercial vehicles and goods vehicles.

Seven tyre and wheel-related defects, mechanical risks and pressure discrepancies were identified. These included a tyre cut through to the cord, which received an immediate prohibition notice, a tyre running roughly 30 percent below recommended pressure, an overweight light commercial vehicle with a nail embedded in a tyre and all four tyres underinflated, a significant rear axle pressure imbalance, a missing wheel nut and an 11-year-old tyre. Leisure vehicle owners generally showed good tread awareness, though pressure maintenance remained an issue, while commercial vehicles presented several preventable defects.

Staffordshire has one of UK’s statistically safest road networks, yet serious collisions remain a concern, particularly on single carriageways. Rural bends, changing speed limits and limited visibility add risk, while motorcyclists and vulnerable road users are disproportionately affected. Common factors include failing to look properly, misjudging speed or path and driving too fast or carelessly. TyreSafe now works with over 260 organisations, and this partnership encourages Staffordshire motorists to make tyre checks routine.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Staffordshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. While Staffordshire has a strong road safety record, every serious collision has potentially devastating consequences for those involved, their families and their communities. The recent Operation Doxey enforcement activity demonstrates exactly why preventative vehicle maintenance matters. Across just 30 vehicles, inspectors identified a number of serious tyre and wheel defects, including a tyre cut to the cord, significantly incorrect tyre pressures, an embedded nail, a missing wheel nut and a tyre that was 11 years old.

“These findings are a powerful reminder that problems are not always obvious from behind the wheel. Simple checks before a journey can help identify issues before they become a danger on the road. Different roads present different challenges, particularly rural and single carriageway roads where the consequences of losing control or being unable to stop safely can be especially severe. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of Staffordshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Police Sergeant Adam Van de Sande, Staffordshire Road Crime – Proactive & Harm Reduction Team, said, “Keeping people safe on Staffordshire’s roads requires everyone to play their part. We are committed to working with partners to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road network. Operation Doxey demonstrated the value of partnership working, with officers, vehicle examiners and road safety specialists able to identify a range of defects and safety issues before those vehicles continued their journeys.

“Vehicle safety is an important part of that responsibility, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to raise awareness and encourage motorists to make regular tyre checks part of their routine vehicle maintenance. Our message to road users is simple: don’t wait for something to go wrong. Take a few minutes to check your vehicle and make sure it is ready for the road.”

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The AZuR Network has been honoured with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2026 in the C2C/Recycling category for its ‘Retreading: Climate Protection on Wheels’ project. The recognition highlights the network's efforts to expand tyre retreading across Germany and Europe, thereby extending the useful life of tyres. Retreading works by reusing a suitable used tyre casing and applying a fresh tread, keeping a substantial share of the original tyre in circulation.

A life cycle assessment commissioned by AZuR and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT compared retreaded tyres with equivalent new ones. Under the conditions examined, producing a retreaded truck tyre generated roughly 135 kilogrammes less greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction exceeding 60 percent. The process also reuses considerable portions of the existing tyre casing, reinforcing its environmental advantages.

The jury underscored the project's scalability and its relevance to the industry. Official documentation further noted the political integration of the topic as a key strength, with the EU taxonomy confirmation in 2025 representing a tangible milestone. The award places AZuR among well-known companies and innovative projects, including a climate protection cooker initiative in Cameroon, a capsule-free coffee system and a mental health awareness campaign.

Knauf secured first place in the same category with its circular gypsum supply chain, while Schmitz Cargobull led the Mobility and Logistics Solutions category. Other first-place winners included DEKRA, Hansgrohe, Pfleiderer Germany and SBRS. Presented by DISQ with ntv and DUP UNTERNEHMER under Brigitte Zypries' patronage, the 2026 edition saw 433 nominations, with 46 organisations recognised across 19 categories on 17 September in Berlin.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, AZuR, said, “This award belongs to our entire network. Retreading only works when many stakeholders collaborate along the value chain – from certified end-of-life tyre recyclers, tyre manufacturers and retreaders to retailers and fleet operators, all the way to academia. The award highlights the potential of using high-quality tyres for longer and keeping their casings in circulation.”

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

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