Treadwright retread failure <500 miles. Thoughts?

[92saturnsl2]

Originally Posted By: FlyNavyP3
Any update on getting another replacement tire?


I received the second replacement tire within a week of receiving the tracking number. It did take more effort than I would have liked, but the replacement is on the truck and working fine so far.

Oddly, they never asked for the blemish tire back. Probably costs more money to ship than what it's worth to them. One day I'll get another 17" rim and mount it as a spare. I sealed up the small hole in the sidewall veneer, but I'd only use that tire as a spare.

I've put about 500 miles since I've had all four tires back on, and they're working out fine. I took them up to the mountains a month or so ago, and they're great in loose and packed snow. The truck still has next to zero traction in 2wd with no weight in the back (new tires didn't help much in that regard,) but the grip in 4wd, and just general braking, cornering, etc. in bad weather is a huge improvement over the old tires. No idea how much the kedge grip helps things, but if the tires hold up, I'll be a happy camper.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: 92saturnsl2
........ One day I'll get another 17" rim and mount it as a spare. I sealed up the small hole in the sidewall veneer, but I'd only use that tire as a spare. .......


I recommend against that. I think that tire is a scrap that they sent to you by mistake. I said that before and I even went back to look at the photos to see if I still agreed with that assessment - and I do.

Besides, repairs in the sidewall do not hold up very well. The motion the sidewall goes through is very complex and 3 dimensional. I don't think it would be a good idea to have a spare fail you when you needed it. Save your money.

 

[Jarlaxle]

I have seen plenty of heavy truck tires with sidewall repairs (obvious ones) that held up fine...honestly, it is nothing unusual.

 

[92saturnsl2]

The hole in the blemish tire is simply in the sidewall VENEER, not the carcass. These are bead to bead remolds, so it has a thin layer of rubber covering the old sidewall. It's not technically a repair, or even a hole in the sidewall. Nothing I'd be concerned about running as a spare.

 

[92saturnsl2]

I know this thread has been beaten to death and rather old, but I'd like to finish it with feedback after several thousand miles, post-failure.

Zero issues. Likely have about 8k on the tires now, including driving the truck 1200 miles at interstate speed, as my family recently moved from Colorado to Kentucky.

Visually, I cannot discern any noticeable treadwear even with their Kedge Grip (which is now useless to me given the climate here,) nor are there any balance issues after ~8k.

Tire/tread/compound performs as I'd expect a truck A/T tire to in all conditions, from moderate snow/slush as experienced in CO, to KY downpours which I'm more recently familiar with.

After my tread separation experience, I wouldn't give them a true thumbs up, everyone go buy them type recommendation.

But if you're a car guy like I am, a little daring, don't mind changing a flat, or have an extra vehicle should something go wrong (tire replacement could take a couple weeks), I think they're a good buy.

 

[c502cid]

Thanks for the follow up!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: 92saturnsl2

But if you're a car guy like I am, a little daring, don't mind changing a flat, or have an extra vehicle should something go wrong (tire replacement could take a couple weeks), I think they're a good buy.


I can't justify new tires for my junk old Jeep and taking a $1500 set of tires into the rocks certainly would be unnerving for me. But a cheap set of retreads doesn't bother me.

 

[ToadU]

I own a towing company and have used Treadwrights on my wreckers for years. I believe I have even recommended them on here before.

I have bought who knows how many of their tires over the years. Up until last week I only ever had 1 tire needing replaced. That tire was damaged in shipping when delivered. It was pretty obvious the shipping company impaled a tire with a forklift. Treadwright overnighted a replacement.

I probably have cumulatively a million plus miles on retreads and Treadwrights.

In the last 2 weeks I have had 3 tread separation failures on their tires with less than 1,000 miles on them. None of the tires lost air pressure and one after loosing the tread was run about 400 miles back to base on a dual axle at reduced speed but with a full load. So far Treadwright has replaced (2) at no charge. I did not get blems but the same exact tires as replacements and they did not prorate the rubber already used. I have another tire separating now too.

I have always been happy with Treadwright but the last tires sent to me visually and based on results makes me feel their quality has suddenly gone down. Retreads--mine are 19.5 Load G tires meant to be retreaded--are dependent on the skill of the person inspecting and performing the work. I hope they will right the ship but I am hesitating to order more due to three back to back failures.

The "tire gators" you see on the road are mainly from new tires due to under inflation. It is an absolute myth retreads have more problems than new tires. This is a fact and easily verified by DOT data. Retreads are equally as safe as new tires.

Even new tires can have problems. Ive had many brand new Goodyears, Michelins, Summitomo (however it's spelled ) etc all have issues brand new. My RV just got 8 new Summitomo 22.5 tires and I had a belt slip the first day driving on brand new rubber.

Just my experiences. For those that say never buy retreads at least do the research and speak from facts and an informed point of view.