Retreads - Are they worth it? - How much?

[SMIT]

Hey, i'm quite strapped for cash atm and i really cant afford $350 for each tyre on my vt, which im running 18's, when i bought the car the back tyres were retreads, i don't really see why people hate them so much, i cant say anything has gone wrong with them n the 6+ months ive had them, they grip fine in the dry and arn't too bad in the wet, They say they are speed limited to 140kph on the side wall, which is ok because i've never really done anything over 100kph, the only wear the tyre's have is from camber wear (one side is preety much bald and the other about 60% or something like that) So my question is why are retreads so bad? and how much do tyres cost to get retreaded?

[Reaper]

Hey, i'm quite strapped for cash atm and i really cant afford $350 for each tyre on my vt, which im running 18's, when i bought the car the back tyres were retreads, i don't really see why people hate them so much, i cant say anything has gone wrong with them n the 6+ months ive had them, they grip fine in the dry and arn't too bad in the wet, They say they are speed limited to 140kph on the side wall, which is ok because i've never really done anything over 100kph, the only wear the tyre's have is from camber wear (one side is preety much bald and the other about 60% or something like that) So my question is why are retreads so bad? and how much do tyres cost to get retreaded?

A retread is not as bad as a bald tyre however they are not great. You are required to put tyres on your car with a speed rating on the tyre placard (usually found on the drivers door) as a minimum and the retread will not be up to par.

The short answer is yes - run it as a last resort untill you can afford a decent tyre.

Cheers,
Reaper

[rb26dett]

Hey, i'm quite strapped for cash atm and i really cant afford $350 for each tyre on my vt, which im running 18's, when i bought the car the back tyres were retreads, i don't really see why people hate them so much, i cant say anything has gone wrong with them n the 6+ months ive had them, they grip fine in the dry and arn't too bad in the wet, They say they are speed limited to 140kph on the side wall, which is ok because i've never really done anything over 100kph, the only wear the tyre's have is from camber wear (one side is preety much bald and the other about 60% or something like that) So my question is why are retreads so bad? and how much do tyres cost to get retreaded?

Cant get a set of stockers for it until you can afford the tyres?

And if your paying $350 per tyre your getting ripped off!

[AirStrike]

Mate the 140km/h speed rating is for the tyre pre retreaded. Retreads are not ment to exceed 80km/h. As said your getting ripped if your paying that much for a tyre..............I paid less for my 19's.
Just get some good second handies for them, I got some when I had 18's on and I think I paid around $120 for two 18's fitted up with pretty good tread.
Theres a saying they have where I get my tires from.............'Retreads are for Retards'.

[AttaBoy]

use it as a last resort and save up.

[Schmoburger]

Pretty sure retreads are also illegal on the front in any case now?

I was talking to a bloke who drives the fire engine at HMAS Albatross and he said they are only allowed to retread tyres destined for the back wheels... fronts have to be new.

[Bravotwozero]

Mate the 140km/h speed rating is for the tyre pre retreaded. Retreads are not ment to exceed 80km/h. As said your getting ripped if your paying that much for a tyre..............I paid less for my 19's.
Just get some good second handies for them, I got some when I had 18's on and I think I paid around $120 for two 18's fitted up with pretty good tread.
Theres a saying they have where I get my tires from.............'Retreads are for Retards'.

I agree. Second hand tyres are a better option than retreads imo. One of the Foremans at work is always bragging how much money he makes and since I found out he put retreads on his VX, I've been giving him sh1t ever since!

[88GreenVN]

Retreads go out of round faster and can fly apart taking bit of your car with it. The advice to get second hand is a better option than retreads. The rubber on retreads are usually softer and not as deep as new ones. New tyres have a tread depth of around 8mm and the retreads are more like 6.5 to 7mm.

[andyman]

I was talking to a bloke who drives the fire engine at HMAS Albatross and he said they are only allowed to retread tyres destined for the back wheels... fronts have to be new.

my dad works there, was it him

[VLDavo]

the only good thing retreads are for is burnout tires....... just save up for some good tires ... and 350 dollars for an 18 inch tire is a total rip off

[hakhawk]

never had a problem with the 15" retreads i used for a year or so, but anything bigger, id go second hand or new.

i picked up my 18" tyres for around $160 each, nangkang ns2's, havent had a problem yet, some say theyre noisier on the road, but they not loud enough for me to get annoyed. only wear so far is really the camber on the front, theyre starting to feather a bit.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Mate the 140km/h speed rating is for the tyre pre retreaded. Retreads are not ment to exceed 80km/h. As said your getting ripped if your paying that much for a tyre..............I paid less for my 19's.
Just get some good second handies for them, I got some when I had 18's on and I think I paid around $120 for two 18's fitted up with pretty good tread.
Theres a saying they have where I get my tires from.............'Retreads are for Retards'.

There is actually a speed rating moulded into the side of the retreaded area. Usually 135 km/h. While retreads were pretty unreliable in the past, they are a cheap alternative to new tyres. I agree that they aren't as good as new tyres, but they carry the same warranty. If your tyre placard states a speed rating of 'H' or above then retreads are illegal. Bob Janes are doing an interest free period at the moment, might be an option to consider. $350 per tyre is a lot to pay, they must be very good tyres. If you can afford the best, buy the best but it tends to be overkill on a street car.

[greenfoam]

I run remoulds on the back of my VP and I'd say I will continue to do so even though I have enough money to buy good tyres now. I go through a pair of rear tyres in less than 10,000ks so it's just not worth it for new ones. Plus the remoulds I can get hear are much softer and grippier than new tyres anyway. I don't think I would run them on the front just incase they failed and that the tyre wear on the front is much less, but I can't see them failing because they are made very well these days.

If you like to enjoy your car and and don't do insane high speeds then I think remoulds on the back are the go, reusing resources is good for the soul too

[Bravotwozero]

If you like to enjoy your car and and don't do insane high speeds then I think remoulds on the back are the go, reusing resources is good for the soul too

Translation: If you like doing burnouts use retreads.

[Lloyd1986]

Personally enjoying my car would be hammering down the great ocean road, or through other roads in the otways. In which case you really notice the difference between cheap tires and good ones. So I personally would never use re-treads.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

There is a difference between a remould and a retread. A retread just has new tread that comes about 30mm down the sidewall where as a remould has a whole new outer casing of rubber that goes right to the bead.

[Dayvo]

I had a set of remoulds on my old VN think they were about $60 each for 15x 215 they were a bit firm but the buggers lasted forever

[STEALTHY™]

I'm gonna go against most here.

Just get the Retreads.


There was a guy that works at a retreading place that said they are speed tested to 200 anyway, but the government imposes the 140 speed limit.


I've had retreads, remoulds, and new tyres.

The new ones lasted a little longer, but i never had any problems with remoulds or retreads. Thats using them for burnouts, or normal driving. I bought a set of remoulds for $80, and they lasted just aslong as the nankangs i had on before them.

But if your planning a trip somewhere, or as above you like the twisty roads, new should be the only option.
Also 200 is the max you should pay for an 18, unless your bent on getting pirelli's.

[MikesVT]

And if your paying $350 per tyre your getting ripped off!

Recommended tyres for some cars (SS'/Libertys/etc) are more like $450 a tyre... You can get cheaper ones as has been mentioned, but i suppose like everything else, you get what you pay for.

I'm pretty strapped for cash myself too and need some new tyres, I dont think I'll go retreds though, how long do they last anyway? I suppose its better than bald tyres, so as a last resort i suppose, otherwise save up! (much easier said than done, i know!)

[pr0n]

350$ what a rip, ive seen ****loads of tyres for 18's for like 130 - 200 each

[I LIKE COMMODORES]

the only good thing retreads are for is burnout tires....... just save up for some good tires ... and 350 dollars for an 18 inch tire is a total rip off

Hmm....Rather intresting that you say that accualy, The last time i heard of a retread as a "burnout" tyre it tore a hole straight through my friends tubs & into his boot.

Although, I agree withthe tyre price

[Low_VX_Taxi]

Ur getting ripped I paid $220 for mine and that was steep! Also retreads may be ok in 16" but if your running 18" its just no rubber for it to attach to (i had em on my car when I got it and it started to split apart after a few days)

[padrickz88]

never had a problem with the 15" retreads i used for a year or so, but anything bigger, id go second hand or new.

im with you on this, i currently have 15's. backs are retreads and fronts are brand new (about a month old) and to be honest i will spend the extra money to go on my front wheels but for my back im going to continue to put retreads on unless im going on a very long trip (anywhere past bendigo), lets be honest im 18 and i go to a private property alot and well yeah you can guess what happens there so i dont want to break my bank everytime i decide to spin the tyres, and i get the accasional unexpected spin around a corner and add that all up = alot of money.....

I'm pretty strapped for cash myself too and need some new tyres, I dont think I'll go retreds though, how long do they last anyway?

ive had mine on since around september last year and they are still barely roadworthy, and that involved me doing a pretty big burnout for my mate because he wanted to record it..... nothing major and there still fine...

There was a guy that works at a retreading place that said they are speed tested to 200 anyway, but the government imposes the 140 speed limit.

so true, mine says 160MAX and airstrike said 85 max? im on 100km/h probably 2-3 times a week for around 10-15 minutes and have been doing that for the last six months with these tyres on.... so it cant be 85max....
i know mine handled it to 150 till i stoped because of private property again (damn i love going up there).... and it didnt pop, lil did i know later when i checked it said 160max and i was like wtf? but i wasnt doing it for long so yeah.... they must be tested to 200 because i done 150 on numerous occasions and im still here



it took me ages to write all that, and if it doesnt make sense its because im tired, im going to sleep nightttt people


BTW....
burnout tyres: retreads
traveling tyres: new
front tyres: ALWAYS new

[STEALTHY™]

I wouldn't be doing those types of speeds on retreads anyway, i was just saying that they have a higher speed test.

[padrickz88]

haha yeah it was pretty stupid, but i didnt realise what the limit was until afterwards. haha lucky they didnt blow out