Truck tyres can be retreaded up to three times

The tyre industry is at the forefront of the circular economy, ensuring optimal resource efficiency and environmental performance. Tyres are designed for longevity, and their lifecycle is extended through retreading, recycling, and material recovery, contributing to waste reduction and resource efficiency.

Truck tyres can be retreaded up to three times. Retreading replaces a truck or bus tyre’s worn tread with a new one, saving up to 70 per cent of raw materials compared to a new tyre and lowering tyre production’s emissions.

The European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) illustrates this in the below graph that it recently published.

To boost circular economy in the automotive ecosystem, the ETRMA says policies should encourage the adoption of retreaded tyres through financial incentives, public procurement, and consumer awareness initiatives.

Retreading extends the life of tyres by replacing worn tread with new material, cutting waste generation and raw material consumption. According to the ETRMA, this process is an exemplary practice of the circular economy:

• A single tyre retreaded twice reduces 160 kg of waste and saves 104 kg of raw materials.
• Truck tyres are designed to be retreaded up to three times, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
• The retreading sector supports 30,000 jobs across Europe, primarily in SMEs.