New research commissioned by Continental suggests UK operators may be missing out on major cost and carbon savings by sticking to new truck tyres.
A survey of more than 700 commercial fleets found 66.9% fit only brand-new tyres. This is despite more than half of respondents citing mileage performance (56.7%) and purchase price (56.3%) as their top decision factors — areas where retreads can offer strong advantages.
Quality concerns remain the biggest blocker: 62.5% of fleets said they worry about retread durability, while 46% questioned longevity. Just 2.1% use retreads exclusively.
Pete Robb, marketing director at Continental Tyres, said: “Retread tyres are a sweet spot for so many businesses. They can provide a lower upfront purchase price and like-for-like mileage capabilities matching that of an equivalent new tyre.”
Manufacturers say the environmental benefits are significant. Continental’s ContiLifeCycle plant in Devon produces up to 4,000 retreads a week, extending casing life and cutting waste.
With retreads typically around 30% cheaper than premium new tyres — and many being regroovable or suitable for multiple retread cycles — manufacturers are investing heavily in automated processes to boost consistency and reassure operators.
Explore Continental’s retreading process at their ContiLifeCycle facility.