Retreading Old Tires

Rudy Abramson’s article about tires (front page, April 1) was very thorough and made the point that we as a nation have a huge and growing used tire problem.

However, his comments about retreading were not totally accurate. Abramson wrote that retreading has been on a decline, partly because of “. . . new tires from the Far East, making new tires less expensive than retreads.”

Although there are a few small-size tires priced close to the price of retreads, retreads will always be less expensive than comparable new tires. And when we look at larger size tires--such as those used on light pickup trucks, 4 x 4s and recreational vehicles--the savings with retreads become very considerable. In these larger size passenger and light-truck tires (that might sell for as much as $150 each), a retread can usually be purchased for as much as 50% less than the cost of a new tire.

Retreading is recycling, and in view of the serious scrap-tire disposal problem in this country, retreads make more sense than ever. Retreads also save our country millions of barrels of oil every year, since tires are mostly petroleum based. The safety and performance of retreads are beyond question. They perform just like comparable new tires, which is why retreads are used by all major airlines, school and municipal buses, emergency vehicles, truckers and millions of motorists. In fact, The Times trucks use retreaded tires to deliver your newspapers.

The Tire Retread Information Bureau will be happy to send a free brochure about the features and benefits of retreaded tires to anyone who writes to TRIB, Box 374, Pebble Beach, Calif. 93953.

HARVEY BRODSKY

Managing Director

Tire Retread Information Bureau

Carmel