Can anyone tell me why they don't recap tires anymore?

Question

Wouldn't it make more sense than having to pay to get rid of old tires? I always had very good luck with recapped tires and I know that 18 wheelers still use recaps on their trailers. I know they don't want to use them crushed in the road surfaces because of the steel belts in a lot of them, but I just don't understand why they don't still do this.

Answer 1

I've often thought the same thing. Especially since I worked in a recapping shop when I was a kid.

I think the reason is that radial tire designs do not lend themselves to recapping.

Back in the early 1970's, when I worked in a recapping shop, fiberglass belted tires were just becoming common, and radial tires were rare indeed. The early belted tires caused great difficulty with separations and were generally not recapped for that reason. Later changes in the belts and recapping process allowed us to recap some belted tires, but not all.

At that time, radial designs were un-recappable. I suppose that is still true. I've noticed that as radial tire designs took over more and more of the tire market, recapping became less and less common.

I could not tell you the last time I saw a business specializing in recapping passenger and light truck tires. I believe the only commercial recappers still in business are some that serve the trucking industry.

Doc

Answer 2

Their still available here but they're a stupid idea both because of the safety problems (i.e. the potential for the tires to fall apart, retreads should never be driven at high speed or load if at all) and also because it's cheaper to just buy new tires that'll last longer than retreads.

Answer 3

I would think that liability plays a big role in that.

Answer 4

They're too dangerous and often become separated - causing blow-outs, injuries, deaths and LAWSUITS