In the manufacture of a new tyre, approximately 75%-80% of the manufacturing cost is incurred in tyre body and remaining 20%-25% in the TREAD, the portion of the tyre which meets the road surface.  Hence, by applying a new TREAD over the body of the worn tyre, a fresh lease of life is given to the tyre, at a cost which is less than 50% of the price of a new tyre.  This process is termed as 'tyre retreading'.

However, the body of the used tyre must have some desirable level of characteristics to enable retreading.  Retreading cannot also be done if the tyre has already been over used to the extent that the fabric is exposed/damaged.  Retreading could be done more than once.
 

Retreading can be done by the following two processes:

1. Conventional Process (also known as 'mould cure' or 'hot cure' process) - In this process a un-vulcanized rubber strip is applied on the buffed casing of the tyre.  This strip takes the pattern of the mould during the process of vulcanization;
   
   
2. Precure Process ( also known as 'cold cure')- in this process a tread strip, where the pattern is already pressed and precure is applied to the casing.  It is bonded to the casing by means of a thin layer of specially compounded uncured rubber (known as cushion or bonding gum) which is vulcanized by the application of heat, pressure and time.

   The present all India pattern, by type of retreading, is as follows:

   Precured - 50%, Conventional 50%.

Retreading is primarly done in the Truck and Bus trye segment. On an average a Truck/Bus trye is retreaded 1.5 times.

At present only 3-4 large companies are in the organized sector of tyre retreading .Organized sector is classified as that comprising of companies which operate through the franchisee route.

International vs. Indian Experience in Tyre Retreading : Similarities & Differences

Similarities

As is the experience in other parts of the world, tyre retreading in India has gained greater acceptance in the commercial segment, especially truck/bus and light commercial vehicle (LCV) tyres,  due to operational savings.

The share of passenger car tyre retreading is on the decline due to several factors, viz. fitment of radial tyres as OE fitment giving increased mileage (encouraging owners to go in for new radial tyres at the time of replacement, strong preference of improved aesthetics of new generation of passenger cars (and hence new tyres) and above all, a growing concern for safety (due to driving at increased speeds.

 Differences

In the developed countries retreading, by and large, is only through precured methods, whereas the share of hot/conventional retreading in India is high 50%, with the share of hot/conventional retreading in select segments, like farm tyres, being considerably higher.

Expected Future Trends in Tyre Retreading in India

Tyre retreading in the commercial vehicle segment is poised for growth in the future.  This growth will be aided by the following favourable factors and major developments taking place:

• Increased level of Radialization in the commercial vehicle segment (due to reduced incidence of overloading of commercial vehicles);

• Growth in and increased share of multi-axle trucks (with the catching up of the concept of 'hub & spoke' transportation, long distance movement of road freight will be by multi-axle trucks whereas distances within and around the cities will be catered by smaller commercial vehicales);

• National Highway Projects, especially Golden Quadrilateral Project and Highways connecting North-South and East -West corridors (coupled with reduction in overloading and improved condition of road network, higher level retreading will offer added financial benefits).