retreads????
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 650
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retreads????
Greetings people, just wondering if anybody has any experience with the retreaded tires you see advertized in the four wheel drive mags.You know,High-tec retreads.Seems to me, if retreads are good enough for 18-wheelers they will probably work for me.Latest ads say they will have 35 and 37 inchers soon and I'm in the looking mode. Thanx wyldstallyn73
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 59
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Good enough for any axle EXCEPT a steer axle. Lose the cap off a trailer tire or drive tire at highway speeds on big truck isn't that big of deal since you have duels to pick up the slack. On a single tired axel it makes for a good blow out ride espially if its a steer tire.
All that said if you don't do much hi-way driving and watch them you'd probablly not have any problems. As for the quality of them I can't speak, but recaps on a small vehicle do make me cringe.
All that said if you don't do much hi-way driving and watch them you'd probablly not have any problems. As for the quality of them I can't speak, but recaps on a small vehicle do make me cringe.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Recaps on big rigs go through a pretty exhaustive inspection (Band-Ag ?) before they are put on a truck. Most big truck places air them up, test them, and balance them inside cages.
Like any tire, including Firestones, what kills a tire is low air pressure and high speed. Even if the tire looks good footprint wise, if you are running that class C tire at anything less then 40 psi, you will fatigue the tire.
So, if you do decide to put the retreads on, run them at a high pressure except off-road. I would use them and probably will order a set once my donut 31s wear out because :
1) I do not tow often
2) I drive my truck usually less then 60 mph even on 70 mph freeways
3) I drive only about 2k a year or less.
4) My truck sees more off pavement then most and tire sidewall damage is more of a risk then a blow out.
5) I check my air pressure frequently
6) green diamonds look like the ticket for slick off road surfaces.
Like any tire, including Firestones, what kills a tire is low air pressure and high speed. Even if the tire looks good footprint wise, if you are running that class C tire at anything less then 40 psi, you will fatigue the tire.
So, if you do decide to put the retreads on, run them at a high pressure except off-road. I would use them and probably will order a set once my donut 31s wear out because :
1) I do not tow often
2) I drive my truck usually less then 60 mph even on 70 mph freeways
3) I drive only about 2k a year or less.
4) My truck sees more off pavement then most and tire sidewall damage is more of a risk then a blow out.
5) I check my air pressure frequently
6) green diamonds look like the ticket for slick off road surfaces.
