Tire Recappers vs Treadwright: Important Details That You Should Know

With the rising costs of new tires, more drivers are looking into alternatives like retreads or recaps. Two popular options are using a tire recapper service or buying Treadwright tires. Both allow you to get more mileage out of your tires at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new tire.

But there are some key differences between having your tires recapped versus buying pre-recapped Treadwright tires. So let’s find out these information.

Pros and Cons of Tire Recappers and Treadwright Tires

Pros of Tire Recappers

• You can recap your existing tire casings by saving on purchasing new tires.

• Recapping extends the life of your tires and reduces waste.

• Often more cost-effective for commercial fleets that go through a lot of tires.

• You can customize tread type and pattern based on your vehicle and usage.

• Some recappers offer warranties on their work for a certain number of miles.

Cons of Tire Recappers

• Durability can vary depending on the quality of work from different recappers.

• Old or damaged casings can lead to issues or failures after recapping.

• Fewer tread pattern options compared to brand-new tires.

• May need to ship tires to and from the recapper facility.

• Turnaround time while tires are under the process.

Pros of Treadwright

• The company specializes in retreads, so consistent quality and process are available.

• Offer a range of tread patterns for different vehicle types.

• Prefabricated for balanced performance and even tread wear.

• No downtime like with the recap process.

• Offer 30-day trial and pro-rated warranty options.

Cons of Treadwright

• More expensive than getting your own tires under the recapping process.

• It still uses old casings, so there are limits on durability when comparing it to new tires.

• Limited sizes and tread patterns are available.

• You must purchase the whole prefab tire rather than reusing the casings.

• There are no customization options are available for your specific vehicle and use.

Overview of How the Tire Retread Process Works with Tire Recappers versus Treadwright

Tire Recapper Retread Process

• Bring your worn tires with adequate casing to a tire retreader facility.

• The recapper will inspect the tire casing to ensure it is in good condition and meets the standards for retreading.

• Tires are under the process of buffing down to prepare the surface by removing the old rubber and also by exposing the casing.

• Any ideal repairs or patches are applied to the casing at this stage.

• The recapper will apply new rubber to the tire. This can be either precured or uncured rubber.

• For precured retreading, a ready-made tread is applied with adhesive, and it is pressed onto the casing.

• With the uncured process, a raw rubber strip is applied to build up a new tread area.

• The tire is put in a mold to shape a new tread pattern and vulcanize rubber with heat and pressure.

• After curing and cooling, the refinished retread is inspected for any issues.

• Wheels are rebalanced and retreaded to make sure that the tire is ready to use.

Treadwright Retread Process

• The treadwright obtains used tire casings and rigorously by inspecting those with related tools.

• Casings meeting standards are with appropriate new treads.

• Through their proprietary process, they apply premium uncured rubber to the casing.

• Then the tire will be in a mold to shape, cure, and vulcanize into the final product.

• Each retread is under the inspection for quality and performance standards after the process ends.

FAQs About Tire Recappers vs Treadwright

Q: Which is more durable?

A: Durability depends on many factors like casing condition and retread process quality. However, Treadwright may have an edge due to its specialized factory process and quality control. 

Q: Can any tire be under this process?

A: No, tires must have an adequate casing condition and a perfect tread depth to pass this process.