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NORTH AMERICA NEWS
The Retread Tire Association from Then To Now By Harvey Brodsky
The Retread Tire Association (RTA) was born in November of 2010 with zero members. Since then more than 300 companies and individuals have joined RTA and we now have members in 35 countries and continue to add
new members on a
regular basis.
How and why did this happen? When I was discharged from TRIB in October of 2010 after nearly 30 years as the Managing Director of that association many of my friends and associates that I had made over more than 35 years in the retread industry contacted me and urged me to not leave the retread industry, but instead to form a new association with the promise that if I did they would support it.
They were true to their word, which is why we have enjoyed such rapid growth, but none of our growth would have been sustained if we did not deliver, and deliver we did.
RTA is now without question the world’s largest and important clearinghouse for the buying and selling of casings of all sizes, as well as new and used tyres. RTA Casing and New/Used Tire memos are sent to nearly 900 email addresses in many countries worldwide and are remarkably effective. RTA is also without question the world’s largest and important clearing house for the buying and selling of new and used
retread equipment and machinery. Our steady stream of news releases and RTA News You Can Use memos are sent to more than 2500 email addresses worldwide and there is much more that we do for our members and even non- members, since our first goal is to promote and defend the retread and tyre repair industries, and this is why we will always help a non member, regardless of whether they intend to join us or not join us. There is much more to tell and we will be happy to contact any reader of this brief article and answer questions and provide more specific information about the many activities of the Retread Tire Association. We can be reached at info@retreadtire.org, or by telephone to +831-646-5269 or on my mobile +831-917-6449.
I’m Harvey Brodsky and I love this industry and have every intention of being around for a long time to come. Finally, I walk the talk, which is why I drive on retreads on both of my family cars, and have been doing so for more than 35 years.
MRT Launches Michelin X Line Energy D Pre-Mold Retread
Michelin Retread Technologies has announced the launch of the Michelin X Line Energy D Pre-Mold retread, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay verified drive tread for line haul applications. This retread is claimed to deliver exceptional fuel economy with breakthrough levels of tread life and outstanding traction, providing significant value and performance for over the road fleets. The exceptional value that the Michelin X Line Energy D Pre-Mold retread delivers is backed by a
“Retreading is paramount to our customer’s operations. Michelin strives to deliver performance levels in retreads that are comparable to those in new tyres for maximum fleet value. “With 10 total SmartWay Verified retreads to be submitted by the third quarter of 2013, Michelin is committed to maintaining our leadership by offering a wide range of products that deliver fuel savings, excellent mileage, and traction. “Quite simply, all fuel efficient tyres and retreads are not equal,” added
Ted Becker. “We have been and will remain focused on bringing products to our customers that lead in fuel efficiency while delivering benchmark levels of mileage and traction. It is Michelin’s commitment to provide fuel efficiency without compromise.” The Dual Compound Tread helps to make the Michelin X Line Energy D Pre- Mold retread a winning combination of fuel efficiency
and long tread life. The top layer of tread rubber delivers enhanced wear resistance while the bottom layer incorporates a cool running tread rubber which minimizes internal casing temperatures for low rolling resistance and extended casing life. “The Michelin X Line Energy D Pre- Mold retread is the first line haul energy drive dual retread to employ Michelin's MatrixTM Siping Technology,” said Ted Becker. “The zigzag grooved walls of the siping provide biting edges with interlocking action that deliver improved traction and even wear. The full-depth, teardrop siping feature extends late life traction and improves tear resistance.”
The Michelin X Line Energy D Pre- Mold retread has 21/32nds of tread depth, and is only available for retreading on Michelin casings. Details of the Michelin-on-Michelin mileage guarantee for the Michelin X Line Energy D Pre-Mold retread can be found at michelintruck.com.
guarantee of 25 per cent more mileage versus other SmartWay verified drive retreads.
The new retread follows the August 2012 introduction of the Michelin X Line Energy D tyre for highway applications and is the first dual casing Michelin-on-Michelin retread offering. Michelin on Michelin is a designation that signifies the purchasers are buying a premium retread that utilises Michelin’s most advanced designs and compounds to deliver significant value to the fleet. Michelin-on-Michelin designated retreads are only available for retreading on Michelin brand casings. “Michelin is addressing trucking companies’ ongoing concerns of balancing low rolling resistance with mileage and traction through the introduction of the Michelin X Line Energy D tyre and now the innovative Michelin X Line Energy D Pre-Mold retread,” said Ted Becker, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, a division of Michelin North America, Inc.
TRIB Members Consider Passenger Retreading
12 Retreading Business
TRIB Members around the world were recently sent a short survey asking for their thoughts and plans regarding Passenger Tire Retreading. According to their responses, the top 3 drivers for passenger tyre retreading growth include cost savings compared to new tyres, growing export markets, and environmental benefits. Top 3 drivers for tyre retreading decline include low-cost/quality new tyres, public perception/education, and size proliferation.
Some of the suggestions for approaching the passenger car retread market included differentiating the retread product from low-cost new tyres in a way that is meaningful to
potential customers. The environmental benefits of retreaded tyres could potentially be an advantage here.
Another was to find a way to once again grow the price differential between retreaded and new tyres. Another suggestion was that the trade should target a niche market that has a consistent need for low-cost tyres in a narrow range of sizes. The investments required for plant equipment and moulds to handle a variety of tyre sizes can be substantial if there is not careful targeting. Examples of niches that are working today are postal fleets, taxi fleets, winter tyres, and enthusiast off-road