"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/28/2019 at 06:59 • Filed to: None
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"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/28/2019 at 06:59 • Filed to: None | 1
| 6 |
This is a little beyond summer tire vs all season tire vs snow tire.
When I was a kid in the good old USSR, my dad, for the lack of other options, went to my neighbor who had a tire vulcanization machine and got all 4 tires refreshed. Basically melted a new set of threads on the old tires.
I could be totally wrong, but I think this sort of process exists in USA as well. Mostly for 18 wheeler trucks. Tires are understand ably very expensive and so rather than getting new set, they glue on a new set of thread on the old set of tires and keep on trucking.
Is that true - anyone familiar with the subject?
What is a lifespan of a vulcanized tire vs off the shelf new tire?
The reason for this question is this - I was in Europe a few weeks back. Driving their gorgeous highways. I did not see any blown tires on side of highway. No shreds of old rubber. Is it due to vulcanization that we have so much rubber debris? Is that process not acceptable in Europe? Do we have more lax laws when it comes to tires in US?
OR! Is it due to poor tire maintenance by the driver/trailer owner? Improper air pressure? If that’s the case, why are the E uropeans so much more responsible? Penalties?
bhtooefr
> PartyPooper2012
10/28/2019 at 07:19 |
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Retreads even for passenger cars are a thing (incredibly uncommon in the US, but as I understand there’s attempts to make them a thing in Europe for environmental reasons) , but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s higher standards for retreads in most of Europe, as well as far more enforcement of maintenance standards, and maintenance of the roadways (that is, cleaning debris more frequently).
BigBlock440
> PartyPooper2012
10/28/2019 at 07:27 |
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A combination probably, yes we have re-treads here and they make up most of the tire debris. I don’t know if they’re legal in Europe, but Europe has stricter towing laws and limits trucks to 55 mph, and you won’t see a European semi barreling down the highway at 80 mph. Speed generates heat, heat degrades tires and causes them to separate (see Goodyear heavy truck tire fiasco). Europe’s also probably quicker at cleaning them up (or the party responsible for the blowout is).
66P1800inpieces
> BigBlock440
10/28/2019 at 08:41 |
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Wow. I didn’t know Europe limited large trucks to 55mph. As you mentioned it is common to see them doing 80 in the US and if I recall correctly their tires are speed rated to only 75mph.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> PartyPooper2012
10/28/2019 at 09:25 |
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Re-treads are a thing here for heavy-duty trucks where so much of the cost of the tire is in building a carcass strong enough for the weight rating, a lthough they’re not universally used in the industry. It is more of a sign of a bargain basement kind of trucking operation when they’re running retreads. I’ve seen better companies in the industry make a point about only running virgin rubber when recruiting drivers.
I would guess Europe probably has more stringent regulations for how retreads are done, along with a more stringent inspection scheme for vehicles and trucks in general. Here, there’s an annual DOT inspection for trucks that isn’t too terribly hard to find someone to sign off on for the right price. Our system relies more on states doing random inspections via ports of entry at state lines and traffic stops by state police/troopers. If you’re only running in a local area/not crossing state lines often/hauling local farm products type work, the odds of getting inspected can be pretty low.
I would also suspect Europe to be a bit better about clearing debris from the road when retreads do come apart. We also have higher speed limits for trucks and towing here, especially out West where in some states trucks run the 75 and 80mph speed limits everyone else does and builds up more heat in tires . It’s also really hot out West in the summer, and heat degrades tires.
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PartyPooper2012
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/28/2019 at 09:52 |
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I am in North East where speed limits are typically 55 but have seen as high as 65.
Between traffic and speed limit, it’s hard to find a place where one could go faster than that. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but i think you might be right on the part about not leaving state and avoiding inspections.
I also suspect grand canyon sized pot holes we have here are probably not helping anything.
In europe we saw some weight station type stops. Might be weight station or could have been border crossing safety checks.
Also saw that in europe, there isn’t much of a shoulder. If your car breaks down, you better drive that thing to a mechanic or else.
I don’t know. Did not see many tow trucks or shoulders or tire debris or cops in the bushes for that matter. Amazing how they even survive out there. Most mountains didn’t even have guard rails.
vicali
> PartyPooper2012
10/28/2019 at 11:05 |
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Treadwright does remolding;
https://www.treadwright.com/pages/about-treadwright-tires