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
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!
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'.
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.
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! :yeah:
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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!)
