Tire Retreading Process

 

 Precure Tread System

Today, most retread plants, primarily those retreading truck tires, use the Precure Tread System.Another tire retread process still widely used is the Mold Cure System.

There are two main systems used in the retreading process: Precure Tread System and Mold Cure System.

Precure Tread System

Today, most retread plants, primarily those retreading truck tires, use the Precure Tread System. This system is a process using a fully cured tread pattern and curing this “precured” tread pattern onto a tire casing using a thin bonding layer of uncured rubber.

The “precured” tread rubbers has the tread design cured into the finished shape before the rubber is shipped to the rereader. The thin layer of uncured rubber is sanwiched between the buffed tire casing and the buffed backside surface of the precured tread. The tire is then vulcanized with heat, time, and pressure in a curing chamber which bonds the tread to the casing. That thin layer of uncured rubber is called bonding gum or cushion gum.

Mold Cure System

Another retread process still widely used is the Mold Cure System. Once the primary method of retreading, it is now used mainly by those retreaders doing passenger retreading. It is also used by large volume truck retreaders who have tires being retreaded of similar size and manufacturer and who require a minimum tread pattern selection.

This system uses aluminum molds with a tread design cast or machined into it. The curing of the tires is similar to the technology of new tire manufacturing. Uncured rubber is applied to these tires and the design is molded onto the tire during the vulcanization process.

The uncured rubber can be applied by a strip winding extruder machine, a slab extruder machine providing a specified width and thickness or die size rubber can be purchased in a specified shape.