Bridgestone tyre retread business Bandag has pointed to retreading of premium casings as what it claims is a more sustainable use of resources and giving a lower cost per kilometre than use of lower-cost new tyres.
Bandag says it has “a reenergised proposition” to help fleets get greater tyre sustainability and cost efficiency. It is anchored in Bridgestone’s casing supply and products, partnerships with fleets, and a network of Bandag dealers with local insight and agility.
Bridgestone says that Bandag retreading solutions compete with low-cost new tyres on price per kilometre and outperform them on quality, supply security and environmental impact, claiming better fuel efficiency, wear life and performance than rivals’ new tyres.
In the United States, Bandag has 60% market share among the largest fleets. Production has been moved to Bridgestone’s bus and truck facility in Poland, where advanced technologies once reserved for new tyres are now applied to retreads. They include cap/base extrusion and next-level mixing technologies.
Speaking about the retread work, Vice-President of Bridgestone Bandag Ben Rosenblum says: “Bandag has always been known for premium quality and range of solutions, but we want to build upon this with something even more compelling.
“There are a number of exciting opportunities in front of us, and we are determined to help our partners make the most of them.” Success in the US “is the engine of our business and proves what is possible when you combine premium products, strong fleet relationships and a committed dealer network,” he continues.
Bandag is now looking to replicate that in Europe, with Mr Rosenblum noting how it is underpinned by technology and data that can track the life of every casing,
“We are building the next generation of retreads; tyres that give fleets everything they expect from a new Bridgestone tyre, with the added value and sustainability of a retread product.”
Bandag works in partnership with Bridgestone’s Fleetcare team to build “tailored tyre programmes with measurable performance goals and continuous improvement at their core,” the business says.
“The end result is simple,” continues Mr Rosenblum. “Fleets buy fewer tyres, spend less money, and achieve better outcomes. That is why we have such loyal customers.”
