LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 27, 2000)—The International Tire and Rubber Association has released the results of its 12th annual Radial Truck Tire Retreadability Survey and Michelin-brand tires are the overall winner. The Greenville, S.C.-based company´s products took first place in three out of four categories in the 2000 survey.
ITRA mailed surveys to over 1,300 retreaders in the U.S. and Canada, asking them to rate 20 brands for casing durability and ease of retreading in two radial truck tire categories—``over-the-road/long haul" tires and "other" tires used for local uses such as pick up and delivery and waste haulers.
The casing durability ratings are based on based how the casing withstood normal usage and retained retreadability. Ease of retreading means factors like ease of obtaining the desired diameter and radius, consistent tread widths and sufficient undertread to allow buffing without contacting the steel belts.
Retreaders were asked to rate tires in each category on a scale from one (poor) to seven (excellent). ITRA said the survey forms were designed so they could not be duplicated and only one copy of the survey was sent to each retreader.
The ITRA´s survey garnered 126 responses, a return rate of about 9.7 percent. The results of the survey are published in the June issue of the ITRA´s The Tire Retreading/Repair Journal.
Michelin placed first in over-the-road/long haul for both casing durability (824 points) and ease of retreading (833). Bridgestone and Goodyear tied for second place in casing durability (772 points each) followed by Yokohama and Kelly brands.
In ease of retreading, Bridgestone placed second (791 points) followed by Goodyear, Yokohama and Kelly.
In the "other" tire category, Goodyear placed first in casing durability (589 points) while Michelin was second with 565 points followed by Bridgestone (562 points), Kelly and Yokohama. Michelin topped the ease of retreading ranking (594 points) and Goodyear was second, followed by Bridgestone, Kelly and Yokohama.
Only the top 10 tire brands in each category appeared in the article. The complete listing ranking all 20 brands in each category is available by fax from ITRA at (502) 964-7859.