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Precure retreading involves vulcanisation without a mould at a temperature of between 95 °C and 110 °C. The tyre is put together using a pre-vulcanised tread liner (= new tread) and a non-vulcanised bonding gum layer. The bond between the carcass, the bondung gum and the precured tread is created in an autoclave.
Precure retreading has become fully established in the truck tyres sector since the introduction of radial tyres in the mid-1960s.
Arguments in favour of precure retreading:
- Less investment is required on the part of the retreading plant (no expensive moulds) and lower follow-up costs, since it is the material supplier who updates the range of moulds.
- A wide range of tread types are available, allowing the optimum tread to be selected for the tyre application.
- The comparatively low investment costs involved mean that decentralised, smaller production units can be operated. This means lower logistics costs and makes the operator more flexible and closer to his customers.
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- The precure retreading process is kind to the carcass, since
vulcanisation temperatures are lower and put less strain on the
rubber-metal bonds in the carcass. Heat build-up in the tyre, rolling
resistance and other tyre properties are often easier to assess than
with hot retreading.
- With comparable tread geometries, the
running performance of a precured retread is often better than a hot
retread and the same as an equivalent new tyre.
Points to note:
- Precure retreading requires high-quality carcasses.
- Material costs are higher than hot retreading material, since the precured tread is already vulcanised and is therefore a more heavily-processed product.
- Labour costs per retread are higher than for hot-retread truck and bus tyres.
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