As a Bandag franchisee SM Tire produces the highest quality retreads available to the trucking industry.  SM Tire has had a Bandag manufacturing facility in Santa Maria, CA. since 1965 and one in El Rio/Oxnard, CA. since 1969. 

Retreads have become the replacement tire of choice for the trucking industry as truckers and fleet managers purchased approximately 19 million retreads last year, compared with only about 14 million new replacement truck tires.

The popularity of retreads in the trucking industry is a benefit to all consumers.  Since retreads have a tremendous cost advantage, the use of these recycled tires helps reduce the cost of shipping goods in this country by over $2 billion annually.  Those savings are achieved without sacrificing any safety or performance considerations.

Retreads have a substantial environmental advantage.  Truck tires are basically petrochemical products.  It takes 22 gallons of oil to manufacture one new truck tire.  Most of the oil is found in the casing, which is reused in the re-treading process.  As a result, it takes only 7 gallons of oil to product a retread.  Additional environmental benefits are realized because a recycled tire does not have to face the disposal option.