TRUCK FLEET OPERATORS WHO RETREAD THEIR TIRES WILL SAVE MONEY BY PAYING GREATER ATTENTION TO THE TIMING OF CASING REPLACEMENT

Too many truck fleet operators wait until tire tread depth has been worn down past the point of safety before removing their tires for retreading, according to TRIB, the Tire Retread Information Bureau. TRIB warns that it can be risky to wait until the tire tread has reached the legal minimum of 2/32"* if the casing is required for retreading. *4/32" on front wheels of a bus, truck or truck tractor. Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations - 393.75. At this depth, the potential for permanent casing damage is high, because there is very little rubber left on the tire to deflect stones from cutting into the remaining tread and into the steel belt area. With proper maintenance procedures, most truck casings should be capable of at least two retreads in addition to their original tread life. Other causes of premature casing loss which can be avoided include:

• Inadequate attention to air pressure and maintenance.
• Overloading beyond a tire's rated capacity.
• Using tires which are unsuited for particular applications.
• Lack of vehicle maintenance, especially wheel alignment and front tire balancing.
• Cracking caused by weather exposure.