A reliable and sensible choice: Recapping tires saves money and environment
Tue February 4 15:26 PM 2025 in category Articles
The Nordic countries have a long tradition of recapping tires. And for good reason. It helps to curb the fleet maintenance costs, but more importantly, it is an easy way to reduce emissions. In this article, our Sales Director, Janne Ruhanen, explains why you should consider recapping when your tires are starting to wear out.
There is no reason to discard a tire as soon as it is worn out. Tires are designed to withstand retreading. The quality of retreaded tires holds up to comparison with new tires, with performance at least as good, if not better.
Tire retreading, also known as recapping, is a way to extend the life of a tire by reusing old, worn tires. When the tread is no longer effective, it is removed and a new tread can be applied to the casing.
There are several tread patterns for different applications, and each pattern is available in different widths. There is a suitable tread for every tire and tire casing. Tire dealers have the expertise to recommend the right pattern for your application.
High-quality tires can be recapped several times. As a result, the same tire can be used for up to a million kilometers before it is discarded at the end of its lifespan.
But why is retreading a good idea? There are three main benefits to retreading tires:
- Material cost savings
- Reduced environmental impact
- Safe and reliable tires after retreading
Recapping makes economic sense
Tire retreading is an integral part of smart and well-optimized tire lifecycle management. The average weight of a new truck tire is 70 kg, while a tread weighs less than 20 kg.
Retreading saves a significant amount of raw materials. Two retreads with the same quality casing can save up to 50% on tire costs which makes it a much cheaper alternative to a new set of tires.
The tire casings can be utilized multiple times, allowing for the reuse of worn-out tires. This not only results in clear cost savings but also contributes to the effective management of tire resources.
Saving raw materials and the planet
Saving money goes hand in hand with saving the environment. Tire manufacturing is energy-intensive and it requires non-renewable raw materials.
However, the carbon dioxide emissions inevitably caused by tire manufacturing can be minimized. Research shows that the carbon footprint of manufacturing a retreaded tire is about a quarter of the carbon footprint of manufacturing a new tire. The positive impact on the environment is even greater when the same tire is retreaded more than once.
Advantages of recapping over new tires:
- 70 l less oil
- 53 kg less raw materials
- 180 kg less carbon dioxide
The savings come from the use of fewer raw materials and shorter transportation distances. Retreading is a very local activity. The distances between the transport of casings to the retreader and the transport of the retreaded tire to the end user are short.
High quality recapping by professionals
There are common misconceptions about retread tires, but experience, equipment and materials have improved over the years – quality and techniques have evolved.
All the recap professionals do a quality job, regardless of the retreader or materials used. A retreaded tire is a reliable and recommended choice for transportation applications. Tires are safe and reliable after retreading when they are retreaded with quality casings by professionals using quality materials. The properties are the same as a new tire.
It is worth noting that retreading quality tires is actually safer than buying cheap new tires. The traction and driving qualities of the tires are better with premium treads than with cheap tires.
Made in Finland: Nokian Tyres Noktop
Nokian Tyres Noktop is a highly standardized retreading method. Nokian Tyres retreading materials are developed and manufactured in Finland and the only Nordic treads. They are specially designed for Nordic use.
A tire retreaded with Nokian Tyres Noktop retreading material the same characteristics as a new tire. For example, if you buy a new Nokian Tyres truck tire and like its characteristics, you can get the same great features as a retread. Whatever your working environment, from icy roads to earthmoving sites, from city buses to logging trucks, Nokian Tyres retreads complement our tire offering.
Nokian Tyres also has hard targets and a lot of work to do to reduce its carbon footprint. The solvent vapors generated during the production of Noktop retreading materials are collected and fed to a catalytic boiler plant. The steam required for manufacturing is produced in a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral boiler plant using local biomass and industrial waste.
Retreading is a simple way to reduce emissions. It has long been popular all over the world and especially in the Nordic countries. It makes economic sense, but it also makes sense from a sustainability perspective. It’s easy to go green if you’re already doing it for economic reasons.
Writer
Janne Ruhanen
Sales Director
Questions about retreading?