Retread tyres

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 18:11

Basically, yay or nay.

Im needing new tyres on my golf (195 65 15 91). Would retread like these be any good.

Or should I just stop being a tight yorkshire git and get some brand new tyres?

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 18:34

Loads of opinions with littel to back them up with.

Im not some odd hippy tree hugger, but I dislike the monumental amount of waste we generate, the idea of reusing tyres seems a sensible responsible thing to do. As for stability of them and delaminating, I assume all tyres must adhere to certain British Standards to guarantee against such catastrophic failures?

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 18:48

SB118 said:
Stop being a berk and get some better rubber.

Was that response entirely proportionate or justified? Or are you just another OcUK motoring berk whos opinion is concrete solid fact? :rolleyes:

Ok, i'll spell it out, when i was skint i bought retreads, they are crap, they are dangerous.

Now this bit of your post I am interested in, what was dangerous about them?

Bearing in mind its only a 1.6fsi and, whilst being a brown 26 year old male from Bradford, I do not drive it around like its stolen.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:02

[TW]Fox;20441687 said:
Because truck tyres are completely different to car tyres.

Trucks also blow tyres all the time - but as you've found yourself it isn't an issue as the rear axles, including trailer axles, are double tyred each side so if a tyre blows out, there is no loss of control. Often the driver wont even notice.

This is why the motorway network is literred with so many tyre carcasses - they are from trucks.

Are retreads really more likely to blow out? car ones that is.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:15

Will Gill said:
you are super gluing tread to a worn out tyre and asking where the issue is?

seriously unless you will never ever exceed 30mph don't remotely consider this as an option

berate the motors crew as much as you like but don't discount all of the people telling you to run a mile from re-treads

Berate the motoring crew, oh come on now. :rolleyes:

Opinions are all good and well, but they are just that! I would like something from someone to substantiate either side of the argument as I haven't been able to find out much myself.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:19

[TW]Fox;20441809 said:
There is simply no need to even take the risk. Having just checked tyres in your size are bonkers cheap. For only 20 quid a tyre more you could fit decent premium tyres such as the Continental ContiPremiumContact 2.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s418...CONTIPREMIUMCONTACT_2_ECO_-_195_65R15_91H_TL_

If the £20 a tyre saving really is worth it then perhaps a bus pass is a safer option if you've got limited money to spend on keeping your car safe?

Where is the risk? Im yet to see anyone show me something factual rather than opinion or prejudice.

Like Ive said I genuinely want to know if they are dangerous or not, and its not just a price issue, the amount of waste we generate is ridiculous, whilst a pair of retreads wont change anything, it is a start.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:20

Will Gill said:
let me break it down for you, no one here is stupid enough to ever ever put re-treads on their car

you would do well to emulate that

however, like you, they are to stupid to grasp the simple concept of evidence based conclusions:/

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:24

[TW]Fox;20441846 said:
The established car tyre brands spend millions developing tyre compounds and tread patterns to ensure tyres deliver optimum performance in a wide range of condition. Not for doing 120mph around tight bends but for day to day driving. Driving on the Motorway at the speed limit in the pouring rain. Driving around town at 30mph and stopping quickly when somebody pulls out. That sort of stuff.

Developing tyres like this costs them a fortune but results in quality tyres that will last a long time and keep you safe whatever the conditions.

A company retreading tyres has neither the budget nor the expertise of the big players.

The results are therefore fairly obvious and it's not at all worth the gamble for the saving of £20 a tyre.

You will probably get 2 years out of a set of tyre. Thats a whole 83p a month more, per tyre, to have the right stuff fitted to your car. The only thing between your car and the road is your tyres.

Decent tyres are what EVERYONE should fit and are nothing to do with how fast you drive.

You didn't compromise on your car when you paid extra and bought a Mk5 Golf over the numerous other much cheaper cars, so why compromise when it comes to choosing safety critical components for it?

Should branded tyres really be the safer option then I will go for them, I just hadn't come across retreaded car tyres before and was curious.

As for the golf... was the wifes choice, figured I should agree before she changed her mind for something daft like a mini!

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:30

Will Gill said:
I'm trying to decide if you are just trolling, if so, well done plenty of bites

question for you, what happens when you drive fast? your tyres heat up, causing the bonding agent to fail and your re-treaded tyres to fall apart, this casuses the money you saved on a new tyre to disappear as you have to repair your bent and battered wagon.

please by all means go buy some re-treads you will be doing the world a favour

Not trolling, but struggling to see what was so difficult about my request for information...

Are retreads more likely to disintegrate? Becasue, all research I have done so far indicates retreads have to meet stringent British Standards BS AU 144e to guarantee safety.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:31

SB118 said:
No, we aren't. Some of us here have been at the "on your arse skint" stage and fitted retreads because there was nothing else.

And of those who have used them, how many do you think would recommend them as a "good buy"?

Not me, for one.

Spend an extra couple of quid and get decent tyres.

tl;dr? retreads aren't worth buying, they are not a good "bang per buck" choice.

As I said earlier, I am interested in your experiences of them being dangerous and not good. What was it that made them substandard? Please expand.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:33

Kenai said:
Truck tyres are designed to be retreaded afaik, car tyres are not.

The carcasses aren't designed to reused in such a manner.

However during construction of retreads they must pass various safety checks to ensure they are suitable and safe, hence why their is a British Standard associated with their construction...

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:33

Will Gill said:
as I personally said if you don't ever drive over 30mph they are fine, if you do they are a disaster waiting to happen, sorry if that wasn't clear enough for you

or, put another way

THEY FALL APART IF YOU GO FAST

And that claim is substantiated by what?

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:37

Kenai said:
At the end of the day, if you're just after someone to tell you what you want to hear, this isn't the place you're going to get it.

For whatever reason you're obviously wanting the retreads, you're looking for absolutely any excuse you can find to justify them, be it eco friendliness, being a tight git or something else, frankly I doubt any of us really give a **** why but you've had pretty much everyone tell you not to bother.

Take it or leave it, but the advice isn't going to change.

Im not after "someone to tell me what I ant to hear" I asked the question to find out if retreads were a valid option or not, and people to back up their sides with some evidence or facts.

I am aware new tyres are not a lot more, I just want to explore what retreads have to offer.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:38

[TW]Fox;20441983 said:
I've driven numerous cars on crap tyres - mostly as a result of cheapskate car hire companies and the experiences are not good. A remould isn't even as good as a cheap new tyre.

Understood, is that down to poorer quality rubber and tread pattern?

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:40

Will Gill said:
what do you want a picture of my car stacked into a wall from a disintegrated re-tread related accident? that won't happen because I'm not an idiot.

just google it for your "proof" or perhaps stop short of that and listen to everyone but you in this thread telling you not to bother.

you can lead a horse to water.....

Evidence.... Oh wait another poster blowing hot air, are retreads more likely to catastrophically fail, and what do you have to back that opinion other than your one experience?

PS I know of 4 people who have had dangerous blow outs, none were retreads...

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:48

[TW]Fox;20442020 said:
I don't even know anyone using remoulds. Infact beyond jokes on internet forums its something you rarely hear anyone doing. Most people will go for second hand tyres before remoulds and that tells you everything

The biggest thing that shouts out to me is the lack of people using the technology. I know take up on some brilliant ideas can be poor due to misconceptions and the rest. But I assume this technology has been around for a while, and if it was a genuine viable alternative, surely the pick up in such a huge market would have been larger and their would be more manufacturers out there.

The cost aspect doesn't ring alarm bells, the difference in quantities of raw materials and energy that go into making retreads and brand new tyres could account for that. they will also be priced keenly to try get some pick up in the market.

However I haven't seen a single bit of factual (beyond circumstantial) evidence to back either side, beyond a British Standard being assigned to retreads to ensure quality.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:54

Will Gill said:
great, have a nice life, probably a shorter one due to you considering putting re-treads on your car

Try here for like minded people

What's that, you missed the post requesting something to substantiate your claims? Evidently so...

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 19:59

[TW]Fox;20442110 said:
Errr my point was that at 20 quid a tyre they are barely any cheaper therefore it isnt worth the bother, not that they are loads cheaper!!

British Standard means nothing. Various chinese tyres meet the British Standard yet in proper tyre tests on new tyres the difference in wet braking distance from the speed limit between the best and worst tyre on test can be many car lengths!

Retreads are half the price! that is a substantial saving, however that hasn't been my primary motivation on investigating retreads.

British Standards do mean something, substantially more than numerous peoples unfounded opinions.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 20:02

[TW]Fox;20442141 said:
Why don't you substantiate your claims?

Thats generally what you have to do when you hold a viewpoint that is unique amongst a group of people.

Apart from Im not here claiming ones better than the other have I.

ive stated facts, retreads take less energy and raw materials, cheaper, more ecologically sound, manufactured to specific British Standards.

For brand new tyres there have been arguments for higher quality rubber compounds and tread patterns (however it appears some retreading firms copy other brands tread patterns)

Neither side has offered any facts regarding safety.

4MIT · 30 Oct 2011 at 20:04

Luke said:
What is it exactly you are looking for here?

A bit of fun whilst the wife is watching X-Factor...

But seriously, just some people who may be a bit more in the know than me who can offer balanced opinions based on something other than prejudices.