Retreading

The Bandag Process

Initial Inspection

First your casings are thoroughly inspected to ensure they meet our high retreading standards.  Our inspectors look for every cut, bruise, and puncture, as well as other damage to the tire body.  After visual inspection, we use an electronic inspection process to locate penetrations in the crown and sidewall areas that may not be visible to the naked eye.

Casing Analyzer / Shearography

This is a pre-buff inspection to determine the conditions within the casing.  The casing is subjected to a vacuum while lasers measure surface anomalies, which indicate separations or pockets of trapped air.  An animated visual using high speed cameras, aids the operator in determining the retreadability of each casing.

Buffing

Buffing removes the old, worn tread design.  The Bandag buffer works like a lathe as the tire is buffed, truing your inflated casing with utmost precision.  That means a smoother running retread to satisfy your drivers and reduce vehicle maintenance.

Repairs

Bandag repair materials are designed specifically for today’s new generation tires.  All repair procedures are an integral part of the total Bandag process.  Nail hole injuries, crown injuries, and sidewall injuries can be repaired routinely.  You save more valuable casings.

Applying Cushion / Extruder

In a one step process, an uncured bonding layer (cushion gum) is extruded onto the prepared casing surface, all skives are filled, and the shoulders stripped.  The casing is then ready to have the tread applied.

Building

Bandag high quality precured tread rubber is applied to the casing while the tire is inflated to its normal running configuration.  The cushion gum bonds the tough Bandag tread rubber to your casing.  This bond becomes one of the strongest parts of the tire.  It’s what makes our Bandag retreads dependable.

Curing

Bandag bonds new tread rubber to your casing using a low curing temperature.  Your tire is encased in a flexible rubber envelope and placed in a pressure chamber to prevent distortion.  No excessive heat or rigid metal molds means your casings avoid the stress associated with other retreading processes.

Final Inspection

Every Bandag retread we produce is thoroughly inspected before it leaves our shop.  The last place we want to discover a tire problem is after the tire is back in service.  We’re sure you would agree.