I was wondering if anyone has tried using retread tires? There is one of the country's top retread manufacturers located close to me.
And claims they are as good as new tires. So just wanting to get member input, thank you.
Some previous discussion
Retread tires (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=18048.0)
There are a handful of other threads if you search for retread
Just my opinion........all of the highway alligators you see are re-treads (recaps). Unless I was dirt poor, I would not use one. I am close, but not there yet.
Thank you for the reinforcement for avoiding retreads. I think that I might go with the YOKO.
Since age of the casing matters, and not treadwear in our application, id always want to start with the newest virgin tires.
For about $1500-$1700 you can get a new set of 295/75-22.5 Triangle tires. They are the 4 largest tire manufacturer in the world and found on a lot of RVs today. In all the reviews, I have not seen any complaints. Made in China but so are iPads.
Triangle TR696 295 75R22 5 Premium Low Pro 22 5 Steer Front Semi Truck Tires... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRIANGLE-TR696-295-75R22-5-PREMIUM-LOW-PRO-22-5-STEER-FRONT-SEMI-TRUCK-TIRES-/131541673318?hash=item1ea07ea566&vxp=mtr)
Typical RV forum: Triangle brand tires - iRV2 Forums (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/triangle-brand-tires-155239.html)
Pierce
Never, ever, would I run caps. After blowing one that I did not know was a cap and almost having a heart attack over it, I bought the best money could buy and now cruise easy. I've run el cheapo tires and they wear out quicker!
First of all, all the tires along the road are not recaps. It just simply isn't true. Actually many if not most are caused by underinflated failures. If that many recaps failed they would not be allowed to make them! Next, Ipads may be made in China but then I'm not putting my life on an ipad failure. Done with the rant! ;D
Retreads are actually quite reliable, but statistically less reliable than V virgin. Age and care if casing before and after recapping determine reliability.
Recapped tires can have very hard tread compounds vs. virgin. Very helpful for mining, garbage trucks, trailers and drive tires for local trucking. Not so good of OTR drive tires, as heat build up most likely in that application Not suitable in my opinion for any application on a FT
Not that many years ago, Japanese products were junk, now almost all the world is envious of their quality. Then Korea came along with the cheap Kia and Hyundai econo boxes. Now, just a few short years later, they are on top of the world in many magazine reviews. After renting a new Chevy Impala at MSP airport in February, we were impressed with how far GM had come. But then we rented a Hyundai Sonata in Dallas a couple months ago and could immediately see why they receive such rave reviews for quality, comfort, drivability and fuel mileage.
The same goes for tires. China did have a poor reputation for tires not that long ago. But like Japanese and Korean cars (and TVs, fridges, etc), times have changed. Those who live in the past may get left in the past. Please read the tire article in the following link: http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20140428/ISSUE/304289991/chinas-impact-sizable-on-truck-tire-market-improved-quality-more Here is a quote from a small paragraph in the article, "A closer look at imports in 2013 reveals that they accounted for about 65 percent of the U.S. aftermarket, with more than 60 percent of these tires coming from China, which is approximately 40 percent of the U.S. aftermarket. "
Pierce
Recaps are not allowed on the steer axle if memory serves me.
The xza-3's plus evertread are dual rubber compound and warrentied for three recaps on the carcass and/or 700,000 miles from Michelin.
Plus the OTR truckers are reporting 230,000 plus tire wear before getting to 6/32" tread left starting from 19/32"
The Chinese tires seem to show much deeper tread than the 19/32"
I am extremely sensitive to squirm in a tire on a Foretravel. Versus constant steering correction.
My tire guy mentioned I would notice a small amount of this on my new tires until they broke in.
I think the triangle engineers tried to address this with the Michelin matching directional sipes you can see in both tires.
Theirs looks like a Michelin copy but deeper tread probably trying to get more wear?
Most may only consider the driving qualities of a tire after purchasing but I am so spoiled by my no dead spot steering that I opted for the best steering tire I could buy.
I would never consider using them on our motorhome. I might consider it on the trailer if I drove a semi, but I would do some serious research first, and even then I doubt if I would us them under any circumstance. To me the risk outweighs any cost savings.
My brother put over a million miles driving over the road. He used recapped tires on his drive tires. Had his own carcasses recapped never had an issue. But then he also maintained tire air pressures.
Roland
While many forum members have the budget to purchase tires they perceive as "being the best", others are on a more moderate fixed income with the purchase of new tires making a major dent in the budget. I hate to see RV owners feel they are sacrificing their family's safety by not purchasing the most advertised (and most expensive) tires. DOT approved means: "The DOT stands for the Department of Transportation, a government agency required to certify quality standards for vehicles. This DOT certification is branded on the sidewall of your tire, which certifies that it meets or surpasses the requirements of the DOT. The numbers/letters that follow the DOT mark represent the plant where the tire was manufactured, the size, pattern, brand, and the date of manufacture. Federal regulations encourage registration of each DOT number for every tire purchased." The "wives' tales" that are constantly being spread about Asian tires are just that.
From Roland's post and according to statistics, recaps are very popular here and I have to agree with Roland and Bridgestone that low tires pressures are to blame for many tire failures. Taking a trip without checking pressures or keeping pressures at "comfort" levels increases tire temperature and makes them more susceptible to damage from potholes on many of our poor roads.
As some Asian countries devalue their currency, a new set of quality tires is more affordable than ever with the cost per tire not too much above the price of a recap.
Pierce
When I was in my twenties I took over a smaller trucking company in Seattle. Had Western Washington state authority to haul building materials, I was offered a salary and 50% of the net profit at the end of the year....
We ran recaps all positions except for steer. Always made sure they were a first time cap.
Big smile at the end of the year!!
The problem in this puzzle is --The casing ages out --So , you have a 7 year old tire recapped and where does this leave you. We are talking motor homes here , not millage wear out but ageing out . Haven't yet met a person that wore out a set of tires on a motor home , maybe a buss as in Greyhound or Trailways. I learned all about tires in horse shoeing school , and at a PTA meeting --see :D :D :D Brad Metzger
Just adding a viewpoint. I run recaps on the rear of all of our delivery trucks - 3 bobtails, 1 18-wheeler. Have done so for years with no problems. It's the most cost-effective way for us to keep tires on our delivery vehicles. Always put new tires on the steer axles of all trucks. And, I've used new Asian tires with no problems (I think Double Coin were the last ones). I've done this on the advice of a fleet manager of a local beer distributorship who runs LOTS of trucks over many large counties, and I haven't been disappointed.
However, on our coach - new Michelins all around. They will age out in a few years, with less than 10,000 miles on them. I will take them off, and put them on the trucks as needed (just as I did with the last tires from the coach which have run fine for almost 60,000 miles with no problems). I would even consider replacing them with Asian tires, if I have more good experience with a certain brand. I think they would be fine, and certainly are MUCH cheaper than Michelin. I've just always had a comfort level with Michelin on my personal vehicles - great tread wear, better ride, etc.
I would never put recaps on my coach for fear of them tearing up the fiberglass if they did blow. On a steel, flatbed truck - not as much of a worry.
I can't save money on my over the road trucks with caps especially these days with all the fiberglass fareings on the trucks... aluminum trailers with $1000.00 aluminum tool boxes nestled right between trailer axles. When we first started I didn't think I could afford to buy virgin tires.. after a few years I couldn't afford not to.. We tore up more equipment than we could save on the price difference.. much more.. I've had no body damage from tires in years and that's the way it needs to be... If a guy feels better spending less for a re cap then that's what he should do.. I can't afford to cut that corner. I haven't mentioned motor homes but multiply what I said x 10 concerning that.
Bridgestone has been the world's biggest tire manufacturer for the last 8 years in a row. Not saying that they are always right but they do mention tire life of 10-15+ years on their site with the ability to recap their casings all during that time. They do have an excellent truck tire/casing reputation. Bridgestone also has factories in China as well as owning Firestone Tires.
What tire manufacturer seems to have the most blowouts on RV forums?
Dub, I think the price difference between recaps and a new tire can be as little as $50/tire. The $300, even $500 difference for a coach can be gone in less than a second with body damage from flying rubber/steel.
Pierce
Like bogeygolfer mentioned.. if I had steel flatbed oil and gas field type trailers and plain stripped down tractors I could probably find an application for recaps but not for road travel.
Also, delivery trucks that stay local hardly go over 50mph.
Or ridiculously expensive airplanes with 250 people on board landing at 150 Mph.
Retreads have a lot of uses, often in extreme service.
But I still wouldn't put on a coach