Re-tread tires

[CLynn85]

Avoiding the old stereotypes and heavy truck tires excluded, has anyone here had any experience with modern day retreads? The ones from high-tec retreading are a popular choice among a lot of jeepers and light trucks and seem to be something worth considering. The green diamond thing seems to be a gimic and not worth it but $380 for 5 tires shipped ain't bad.... especially considering you can spec out what sidewall/carcass you want them on. I've heard pretty good experiences with airing down as well.

http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/

[pskhaat]

I've seen those guys before; they've been around a while. I was very close to buying some for a trail rig. I opted out of it, but probably for an uninformed consumer reason; commercial vehicles have been retreading for years, even off-hwy for millions of miles. I'm looking forward to the responses here.

[goodtimes]

I'm interested in any actual experience with them as well (instead of the normal "my brothers wifes sisters ex-husbands uncle had some retreads and said they sucked" stories you usually hear). I am close to needing a set of tires on both the Dodge and the jeep.....last I checked 285/75r16's (which both the dodge and jeep have) weren't cheap.

[flyingwil]

I'm interested in any actual experience with them as well (instead of the normal "my brothers wifes sisters ex-husbands uncle had some retreads and said they sucked" stories you usually hear). I am close to needing a set of tires on both the Dodge and the jeep.....last I checked 285/75r16's (which both the dodge and jeep have) weren't cheap.

I dare you to get the "Farm Tires"
http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/images/ranch.jpg


But in all seriousness, I too would love to hear the final results. Nice find, CLynn85 BTW.

I know that when I had retreads on my KW back when I drove Tractor Trailer, the retreads did not hold up well and after 3 winter months, I regreted every bit of the retreads. But technology has changed since then and could be a different story (sounds like the Green Diamond might have fixed this).

Wil

[sacto_patrol]

I ran the 285/75/16 mud's on my XJ for a year, until I sold it. The carcass is either BFG AT or Bridgestone Revo AT's. I had the revo's, the balanced perfectly. They are fairly soft, worked great on the rocks and aired down fine. Never had any chunking. I will say they seemed to wear quick. I would expect around 15,000 to 20,000 miles out of a set.
The company is great and had them to my door in 4 days.

[goodtimes]

.... I will say they seemed to wear quick. I would expect around 15,000 to 20,000 miles out of a set....

Wow, that is quick. My goodyear MT/R's have just shy of 50,000 miles on them (20K on the original owners jeep, 30K on my jeep), and still have ~25% tread left. If the retreads only last 33% of the ~60K the mt/r's will eventually have, it puts the price of tire per mile back in range with new tires.

Were your retreads from hi-tech, or somewhere else? How long ago did you have them?

[sacto_patrol]

Well I sold the XJ in September or November can't remember. I had them on all of last year. They were from hi-tech, again very good company and very responsive.

I will say one thing for the first 5,000 miles the Jeep need an alignment real bad and I didn't have time to do it. So that could of attributed to the quick tire wear. I think all 4 tires were $300 something to me door. When I get home I will dig up the receipt.

[goodtimes]

No need for exact price (that is on the website). I was just curious if the tires you had were the same ones I am looking at (hi-tech), and if it was fairly recently. If you had a set of their tires, say, 15 years ago, it may not be a good representation of their current product. But if it was only a year ago that you bought them, chances are their process hasn't changed much (if at all).

[Colorado Ron]

FWIW I burned thru a set in 12k miles. They were Hi-Tech.

[goodtimes]

hmmmm...that kind of lifespan is unacceptable given the price. I think I'll skip the re-treads.....

[colvere]

I ordered a set of 5 235x85x16's today and will swap them between my 79 crew cab ford and my discovery and see how they do. I have new MTR's on the discovery now but will switch them for the retreads for about 2K miles to see if they are trail and hiway worthy.

[flyingwil]

Sorry to bring a thread back from the dead, but anyone have any input on the retreaded tires?

[Robthebrit]

Are they legal on normal vehicles? I big tires can be reteads, my mog spare is a retread but I was under the impression 'car' tires cannot and you are not allowed to retread them unless they say 'regrooveable' on the sidewall. Maybe thats just a CA rule.

I have a fair bit of old experience with them as they are 100% legal in the UK but I have not lived there for 13 years and I guess things have changed. In the time that I did use them I never had any problems with them and I drove in the dry, rain and snow and they never seemed any different, however I have never been one to drive fast.

My mog spare is a retread but I have never used it, it looks like the sidewalls are going to fail before the treads.

Rob

[bootzilla]

I was just reading a thread over on an Isuzu board about Hi-tech retreads. Of course there was all kinds of debate about the pros and cons, but only one person with direct experience - he is currently running the mud tires on his Rodeo - positive comments from him, no problems so far, and he said the tire shop commented on how well balanced they were from the factory. He uses them both on and off-road. The only thing he didn't comment on was wear.

The price is certianly nice, and they are envronmentally friendly compared to new tires...I have a long way to go until a new set of tires, but if they wear decently, I'd give a set of them a try in the future...

[stomperxj]

This is my first post here and I know this thread is a bit old but I'd like to chime in here... I've owned 2 sets of Hi Tec Retreads, specifically the 31" OTR muds. I got about 25k miles out of both sets and they wore great. I know some other wheelers in my area that are easy on the throttle and have gotten 35k+ out of them. I'll never buy brand name tires again. I ran the first set unbalanced for awhile and I couldnt tell the difference between balanced and not so I never balanced the second set....

[CRD4Liberty]

JP magazine tested some in the April 2007 issue, they like them,gave them a mid road grade across the board.

[sacto_patrol]

On my last XJ, I ran the 285/75/16 muds on cragar soft 8's. The tires were on Bridgestone Dueller bodies all 5 were matched and balanced great. This vehicle saw daily driving duites and trail duites. The tires are soft and did well on the rocks. I only got 20K miles out of them though. Otherwise great tires.

[kellymoe]

The thread that just wont die:)
I have had Hi Tech retreads on my D130 for about 2 1/2 years. They have thousands of highway and hard off road miles on them. Wear is hardly noticeable if at all so far. I tore a pretty good hole in the sidewall of one and replaced it but that has happened to me with other tires so you cant blame it of the fact that they are retreads. I am used to BFG AT's and the Hi Tech OTR's that I have grip the rock better. Probably a stickier rubber compound. If I could do it all over again I would have requested what carcass they used. I have 4 Big O carcases and my buddy had his done on a Michelin heavy duty tire carcass. Still I cant complain because they have and continue to hold up very well. I know there are purists out there who will poo poo the idea but for the person on a budget this has been one of the best bang for the buck purchases I have ever made.

[XJxplorer]

I will be running a set of the 265/75/16 green diamonds this winter in Tahoe....

[dnellans]

I'm in the market for a set of 255/85/16's and after seeing this thread and doing some reading would definitely "try" a set just to report how they do.... unfortunately this doesn't seem to be a size they currently offer, does anyone know if they just happen to be out of stock right now or if they never carry this size? i could make due with 265/75/16's but prefer to stick with the size i'm running now....

[Redline]

I would be willing to try a set as well, particularly in 255/85. But I don't think they are likely to ever offer this size, just not popular enough (even though it should be more popular than the wider 285/75).

But even in 235/85 I have considered a set just to try them. I don't need any inexpensive mud tires as I have enough quality/new mud-terrians, but a set of their all-seasons for my old truck might be interesting. The thing is, by the time I pay shipping and have my local shop mount them, I can buy a set of inexpensive 235/85 all-seasons locally ($93.17 each) for a few dollars less than Hi-Tech retreads.

I think the mud tires make the most sense for a tire one is going to abuse off-highway



I'm in the market for a set of 255/85/16's and after seeing this thread and doing some reading would definitely "try" a set just to report how they do.... unfortunately this doesn't seem to be a size they currently offer, does anyone know if they just happen to be out of stock right now or if they never carry this size? i could make due with 265/75/16's but prefer to stick with the size i'm running now....

[Mobryan]

Hate to bring up the Zombie one more time, but:

I have a pair of Hi-tec 235/85/16E M/T's, very impressed so far, minimal wear over 5K miles, on a rig rather infamous for killing tires.

Only negative experiance was one tire lasted 15 miles before a palm sized piece of tread flew off :eek: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the customer service, though. "You say WHAT happened??? Never heard of that, we'll send a new tire on the next truck, please return the carcass so we find out what happened." New tire within 24 hours, and not another problem since.

Matt

[Redline]

You have a pair of them or a set of 4?


Hate to bring up the Zombie one more time, but:

I have a pair of Hi-tec 235/85/16E M/T's, very impressed so far, minimal wear over 5K miles, on a rig rather infamous for killing tires.

Only negative experiance was one tire lasted 15 miles before a palm sized piece of tread flew off :eek: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the customer service, though. "You say WHAT happened??? Never heard of that, we'll send a new tire on the next truck, please return the carcass so we find out what happened." New tire within 24 hours, and not another problem since.

Matt

[BKCowGod]

Just took some pix of my Hi-Tec's... I only have maybe 100mi of street use on them and I really like 'em... Not as annoyingly loud as my buddy's muds, and they feel and look very professional. Everybody is amazed they're retreads. Too bad the vintage mags are a bit porous - front left leaks a little through the wheel.

http://www.kuhgott.com/temp/jeeps/IMG_1402.JPG

[Martinjmpr]

Very interesting. I had some retreads back in the old days (early 80's) when retreads were just cheap tires - you bought them cheap and didn't complain if they failed on you 'cause you get what you pay for.

I've wondered if the retread business might improve with all the new tech available. So first big question: Where do you find retread tires? Are they pretty much only sold at places that specialize in big-rig tires?

And Mobryan:


73 IH Travelall 345/5sp/open/locked, some doodads


Dude! That's totally cool! Do you have pictures? My first two vehicles were IHC Travelalls: A 1957 (first year of the 4x4) and a 1968. My '68 had a similar drivetrain as yours: 345 and a 4 speed. No smog crap in 68 either. Strong as a horse and uglier than original sin! :yikes: That thing was a tank! Only serious drawback: No power steering (although it did have the tiny power-steering-sized wheel.) As you can imagine, it wasn't fun to try and parallell park that thing.

Unfortunately, being young and stupid, I traded it in for something that looked better (a '71 Blazer) but that was a total POS. Shoulda kept it, dang it! Twin gas tanks, trailer brake, and even a cheapie Kraco AM/FM/Cassette - I felt like the coolest 20 year old on the block back in 1982!

I've often thought it would be cool to find an old 'Binder and rebuild it. Those were some real, By-God trucks! :clapsmile

[dieselcruiserhead]

A good friend ran the Green Diamond snow tire retreads for years. He absolutely loved them and they took a beating.. He also said they were phenominal snow tires as well, for what its worth. I would buy a set personally..

[Martinjmpr]

I have a vague recollection that radial tires can't be retreaded. It this still true? I'm pretty sure all my retreaded tires were bias-ply not radials.

[stomperxj]

I have a vague recollection that radial tires can't be retreaded. It this still true? I'm pretty sure all my retreaded tires were bias-ply not radials.

AFAIK all the High Tec Retreads are radials. All 3 sets of mine were BFG A/T casings... they have been retreading radials for many many years...

[BKCowGod]

unless they changed something, my retreads are Goodyear Wrangler radials.

[Mobryan]

You have a pair of them or a set of 4?

Set of 4, excuse me. (I had a pair of beers at the time :P)

Martin, no pics, :( Need to take some after I finish the build up :Mechanic:

I love it to death, it's my 6th Binder, so maybe I'm biased, but when you take your 4000mile, minimal highway honeymoon in a stock vehicle almost as old as the two of you put together, and come out with a flat tire, a leaky vacuum line (fixed with bubblegum), and no other repairs, it does say something for the build quality of the truck :D :D :D


Matt

[Redline]

I'm currently working on a magazine article about some TreadWright A/T-D (all-terrain) 265/75R16s so I can't "tell all" here...

But I can say that they didn't need an excessive amount of weight to balance, and at this early stage in the testing they seem to be fine. Currently they are being used on an F350 Power Stroke diesel pickup.

[Martinjmpr]

I want to read that article. I'm interested in finding out how the cost/benefit works out. If they are only $75 a tire, that's great, but if they only last 25,000 miles, then they're not a bargain, because I can spend $110/tire and get a 50,000 mile treadlife (my current BFG Rugged Trails have 52k and still quite a bit of tread left.)

[Redline]

It will be a few months as the magazine is a quarterly and the next issue is a few months away, but I will share and keep you posted when I can.

My biggest problem is going to be putting enough miles on the tires to test their wear. The tires are on my F350 which is pretty much a spare vehicle these days. I drive it occasionally or when I 'need' a big truck. I don't care to run 32s on my 4Runner (like 33s) but might have to later so I can get a few miles on the tires. Another option I may explore is putting the tires on a friend’s truck that sees more mileage (though I won't be able to track the wear and care as accurately).

James


I want to read that article. I'm interested in finding out how the cost/benefit works out. If they are only $75 a tire, that's great, but if they only last 25,000 miles, then they're not a bargain, because I can spend $110/tire and get a 50,000 mile treadlife (my current BFG Rugged Trails have 52k and still quite a bit of tread left.)

[WJinTRSC]

I want to read that article. I'm interested in finding out how the cost/benefit works out. If they are only $75 a tire, that's great, but if they only last 25,000 miles, then they're not a bargain, because I can spend $110/tire and get a 50,000 mile treadlife (my current BFG Rugged Trails have 52k and still quite a bit of tread left.)

Yeah, but can you buy a descent offroad tire like a BFG MT, which is very comparable in tread pattern to these at that price? And even if they only last 25K, most mud tires seem to avg. about 40K, but cost more than double the price. I think they're worth a shot. Perhaps this could be a good review for Overland Journal???!!

[stomperxj]

Yeah, but can you buy a descent offroad tire like a BFG MT, which is very comparable in tread pattern to these at that price? And even if they only last 25K, most mud tires seem to avg. about 40K, but cost more than double the price. I think they're worth a shot. Perhaps this could be a good review for Overland Journal???!!

BFG Muds are $144 ea at tirerack.com plus shipping:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Mud-Terrain+T%2FA+KM&partnum=105QR5MTAKMRWL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=0

4 BFG muds for $666.52 shipped versus 4 OTR muds to my door for $323.16...

I have buddies that have gotten over 25k with the retreads. They are a great bargain IMO. I didnt balance them and I mounted them myself to save money...

So in other words, I agree :D

[Desertoutpost]

Okay quick question...

I called and spoke to a guy and he asked me if I wanted to wait for a "Matched Set" from a new run starting next week, could someone explain to me what he meant, I did not have the time to pick his brain. I can make assumptions but if you know could you tell me. Also how do the green diamonds do on our roads in Socal area, will they wear faster? Thanks, exploring options, I just do not know if I want retreads????

[BKCowGod]

A matched set means all four tire "donors" would be the same brand. Only really important if you want the logos to match or if you really care about the triple ply sidewall on BFG's. I wanted a matched set, so I ended up with four wrangler carcasses

[CA-RJ]

Bringing this thread back up--

Looks like Hi Tec is now TreadWright Inc. They offer a Goodyear MT/R tread pattern now. I'm wondering if anyone is running it? I can get 5 of them (285/75/16) for $646 shipped to my door. New MT/R's are $200+ in that size.

[Bella PSD]

What...no 35" retread tires!!:rolleyes:

Louie

[BIGdaddy]

i've had three different sets of "treadwright" re-treads.

2 on my grand vitara, mud and AT.

and 1 on my 4runner, mud.


all three were around 30-31", and all were not green-diamond.

I took all three off-road and they we're great.

I drove all three sets on daily drivers, and they wore evenly, with little to no weight used to balance them

I did get a bit of chunking on a particularly hard trail, but any semi-soft tire would have (and did) behave similarly.

I would absolutely (and probably will) get them again for my jeep when the stock goodyears wear out.

:arabia:

edit: i didn't keep my suzuki or my 4runner lon enough to see the 25k mark, but after about 5k on the suzuki, i had really no noticable wear....

[barnstormer]

FWIW, the Treadwright (Hi-Tec) retreads on the Dodge W350 Diesel truck I just bought from a friend (Cummins...HEAVY) went to Honduras and back a year or so ago, and still look great. The roads from Colorado to Honduras and back are everything from smooth pavement to horrible, rutted mud to mile after mile of hard washboards. The truck is heavy empty, and was loaded with a bunch of stuff and a couple folks.

If that doesn't give them a good recommendation for an adventure/expedition vehicle, I don't know what would.

They are made on a Michelin E rated carcass.

Just my .02.


Brian

[jh504]

Peterson's 4wheel & offroad did a test and write up on hi tech about a year ago. They abused the tires offroad and aired down and seemed to have nothing but good to say.

[jim65wagon]

[quote=Redline]I'm currently working on a magazine article about some TreadWright A/T-D (all-terrain) 265/75R16s so I can't "tell all" here...
quote]

What happened with this? Did it publish? Can I read it? You're so darned secretive with you tire junkie knowledge...:bowdown:

[Redline]

Jim,

It did publish in the PSR (Power Stroke Registry) a quarterly subscription only magazine I write for. Actually I had two TreadWright articles publish recently in the PSR, one on TreadWright’s ATD all-terrain treads (Summer 08), and another about TreadWright’s crazy aggressive D-Muds (Fall 08). Of course the magazine has copyright protection... But I have requested PDFs from the PSR for TreadWright to put on their website for all to see. Hopefully this will occur soon.

The ATD treads were pulled from my F350 after the initial test, as the truck doesn't see many miles, then mounted on a Chevy Duramax. An article was written for maxxTORQUE (G.M. Diesel quarterly Mag.) and we are keeping track of the wear and doing rotations to see how they last.

I can share that as of the last rotation in July the ATD tires had 10,200-miles on them with:

10/32" fronts
11/32" rears

They started with 16/32" tread depth, so roughly 1,700-miles per 1/32" of wear.

The Chevy Duramax owner who is logging the miles is a 'typical' truck owner, meaning he is not overly concerned with tire PSI nor easy on the accelerator. He also pulls a heavy travel trailer on occasion. At our last rotation in my shop the tires came in with about 65-PSI in them, pretty high when the truck is unladen.

I would really like to try TreadWright's new AT-B tread design, tires that look VERY similar to BFG ATs. But they don't make tires in 255/85R16 and I don't like to run anything else. 285s are too wide and 265s are shorter than I prefer. Maybe I should buy a new pickup with some 17 or 18-inch wheels...

How's that for some info :)



[quote=Redline]I'm currently working on a magazine article about some TreadWright A/T-D (all-terrain) 265/75R16s so I can't "tell all" here...
quote]

What happened with this? Did it publish? Can I read it? You're so darned secretive with you tire junkie knowledge...:bowdown:

[jim65wagon]

As always, above standard! Let's see...at 1700 miles per...that's about 22000 miles if you let them wear down to 3/32s and they wear at a same rate throughout their life....probably typical mileage for typical owners. Thanks again James!

[98roamer]

PSR was the first mag I bought for my dad when he bought his 99 F350. Great resource for him.

[4x4v8]

Any updates on Re-threaded tires? This is the first time I have heard of them. (I am new to truck and stuff). Does anyone re-thread in Canada? For that cheap, I would consider getting a set of M/Ts on steelies for summer time fun.

[4x4v8]

Here are articles on them....

http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/wheels/154_0704_2007_jeep_tire_buyers_guide/more_options.html

http://www.jpmagazine.com/shop4parts/154_0605_hi_tec_retread_tire/index.html

http://moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=416

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=237

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=262

[kellymoe]

Have had my Treadwrights for a few years now. Only issue was a sidewall puncture but that can happen to any tire. I have had them in temps ranging from 15-126, aired down to 15 and keep them aired up on the hwy to 50psi. Have done long hot hwy miles on them as well as boulders, volcanic nasty rocks, shale, dirt, mud and snow. I have their Mud terrain equivalent which is called the OTR I believe.

After several thousand miles on the tires I cant say enough good about them. The only con about the tires is a cosmetic issue that makes the tread appear in places that it is peeling. I called Treadwright about this and they assured me it was just excess rubber and nothing to worry about. The excess has since worn off and they look fine now. You can order the tires by brand and load range when you make your order if you wish, example, Michelin, BFG, Toyo etc...

Any other questions about them? I am happy to attempt to answer as best I can.

Very pleased for $65 a tire. I think they are up to $70 or 75 now. Still a great price.

Here are the tires in action.

[Fergie]

Okay, I'm about to buy my set of 235/85/16s of the Treadwright OTRs, and would like to know what previous users can report.

I've heard from BigDaddy, KellyMoe, and have read Redline's articles, as well as every forum thread I could, from PSD, to Isuzu to TTORA, YotaTech, IH8MUD and NAXJA...all positive.

So, for the folks that have had these for a while, are you still impressed by them?

Thanks,
G

[RHINO]

i dont have exp. with these particular tires, but on big rigs retreads hold up well. the only problems seem to come from the guys who do crap maint. and dont check air pressures often enough.
they seem to have the process dialed in and quality control hammered out, the days of problematic retreads seem to be behind us.

[DiploStrat]

Back in the day, there were some who swore by Bandag "Cold Cap" retreads. The "secret" was that the tread body was fabricated separately from used tire carcass and then "glued" on. The avoids overheating the used tire. They focus on big rigs, but they do make light truck tires in an amazing range of sizes, including lots of old sizes.

This tire might work for overland/light off road use: http://www.bandag.com/TireProducts/catalog.aspx?id=4&tid=30

If I remember they were more expensive than new tires, but had much better life. (Of course, this begs the problem - what is the point of a bulletproof tread if the carcass wears out first?)

N.B. I have no/no personal use with this product. I confess to being intrigued.

[BKCowGod]

Still love mine, and I abuse them something fierce. At 15k miles, they are starting to get a bit of that MT whine, but they still have a lot of life left on 'em.

[NCtrailX]

Has anybody tried the 'MT/R' tires from Treadwright? Would like some feedback on road noise and wet weather traction. Blocks look to be a bit smaller and maybe closer together than the real MT/Rs.

http://www.treadwright.com/shopNowresult.php?sectiresize1=&tiresize33=&tiresizef=245%7C75%7C16&next=+Next+#

[Fergie]

Well, we'll see how they are in another 4-6 weeks...$408 to my door for (4) 235/85/16 OTRs.

[biglos454]

i have had the Tread wright MTR for about a month now. going on 4k miles on them. and those are hard fast miles to Mexico and across Texas in some serious heat. they are holding up just fine. been mudding in them quite a bit also. the tread doesn't clean out as well as id like them too but its expected with such small voids. also i think they do exceptionally well on dirt and grave roads. on wet pavement they act like most mud tires, slippery at higher speeds. just keep it under 70 when the roads wet and you'll be fine.

personally i like the tires and i will definitely buy again.

[Buckshot62]

I have been running the 285/75/16 BFG ATs Treadwrights for 9 months on a 2000 chevy K2500 crew cab and love them.Mostly highway driving,some dirt and gravel roads and they look new.Too lazy this morning to go out and look at my log book and check how many miles on these tires,it is (was) my daily driver until I bought my dodge and gave the chevy to my wife.About to order another set in 245/75/16 BFG ATSfor the chevy and put the 285s on my dodge.

[mnutz]

Hi everybody! I recently found this forum and it is awesome, so much great info!

I've been running a set of Treadwright MTG 31x10.5x15 for 6 months. They are holding up great and perform well both on and off road. I have not yet had them in snow or heavy rain. They are noisier than ATs i have run in the past. Mine are on Michelin LTX m/s carcasses.

[sargeek]

I ran 4 OTR (31x10.5x15) mudd tires with green diamonds on my 99 TJ from Hi Tec. The tires were capped LTX.

Overall, they were good tires off road, in the snow/ice, and rain. A bit of road noise expecially when they were worn down.

When I bought them, they were 1/2 the price of a BFG AT and lated about half as long as the BFG AT.

If you can get them mounted at a reasonable cost, then their some advantage to buying them, but otherwise if you some tire shop charges you 1$12.00 / Tire to mount them the deal is not so good.

If you regularly destroy tires, then these would be a good deal.

[Buckshot62]

Checked the log book on the chevy today and have 12,208 miles on the retreads.They are the BFG AT copy and still look like new!Note to self:buy a tread depth gauge.

[kellymoe]

Just got back from another 500 mile road and off road trip a week ago and am heading out again on the same trip in a few days. Still holding up great. No complaints. Love the OTR's.

[biglos454]

good to hear kellymoe. my retreads are also holding up great after 2 more trips to mexico. have a little over 3k on them now and ive been rough on them. cant say so much about the truck though... on my way back from doing a little wheeling in port aransas today my drivers side hub failed on me and my retread went a little lop sided on me:Wow1:. hub was only 8 months old. had to trailer the truck back home. my retread survived the ordeal just fine though:victory:. itll be going back on ASAP

[Fergie]

These arrived Thursday from TreadWright:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/P1010154.jpg

[alexrex20]

These arrived Thursday from TreadWright:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/P1010154.jpg

i'm very interested in pics of these, once installed. i'm considering ordering those exact tires in that size from TreadWright, once they have them in stock. :)

[Fergie]

Alex, they should have a set soon. I originally ordered a set with the kedge grip, but they called ans asked if I would like a regular set right now...I said yes. I ordered them the first of september, and they arrived the 23rd or 24th, cant remember which.

I had them out on the trail for the first time today, and out on the highway up to 75mph. No vibrations, and the sounds was typical for an MT.

The tire:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/ChangingColors9-29-09043.jpg

Close-up of where the carcass and new tread meet. I received my OTRs on BFG AT carcasses made in the 47th week of 08:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/ChangingColors9-29-09045.jpg

And the tread:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/ChangingColors9-29-09044.jpg

And on the vehicle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/ChangingColors9-29-09018.jpg

[kellymoe]

They look great on your cruiser. Keep us updated on what you think of them.

[alexrex20]

thanks for the pics fergie.

i was planning on those 32in OTRs, but i spoke with Joel from TreadWright yesterday and they're going to start production of 265/75-16 (also 32in) MTGs in the next week or two. (the MTG is the Goodyear MTR clone.) looking forward to it!

[EXP-T100]

This is a good read on the Treadwright tires: http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram/182272-guinea-pig-extensive-treadwright-retread-tire-test-thread.html
the guy seems to be very happy i just wish they made them in a 37"

[fabjunkie]

I have had my 285/75/16 MTG for about 9 months now and they have held up awesome. I've beat the hell out of them for about 6.5k and they barely show it. I've had them in everything but deep mud and they have been great. I will definitely buy them again.

This is around 4k on them.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/Sixtyeight442/Toy/HPIM3969.jpg

[Fergie]

Well, after an 800 mile road trip from Flagstaff to Imuris, SON, MX, I am pleased with the tires.

The road noise is no worse than any other MT out there, and I experienced no odd vibrations on the highway, and they performed as expected on the backrods of the Rancho we were working at.

They've also done well in Flagstaff with temps as low as 15* in the morning...no flat spots after sitting for a few days.

We'll see how the tread life is, but so far I am happy with the purchase.

[biglos454]

glad to hear that fergie. my treadwright retreads are also holding up very well after 7k of very hard abuse in 110 degree heat on the road and alot of time on dirt roads and in the oyster shell beaches we have down here. they hold up very well against cuts from the shells. i will definitely be buying a new set after these are gone

[Fergie]

Had the GWB out in the snow and ice for the first time today, and was very pleased with the traction from the tires.

Mind you, the 3FE doesnt provide enough power to break traction on normal surfaces, even loose dirt, but the ice and snow were such that traction was limited.

No problem taking off, stopping, or hitting large windrows of slush.

With the CDL engaged, and me flooring it, the tires spun a bit, but I stayed in a straight line and was moving forward.

All in all, still happy.

[roninjiro]

mine came in yesterday according to my wife and from the pics she showed me and her inspection of them, they are great. got 235/85/16 MT's with kedge grip. i cant wait to get home in a few weeks to mount them..... if all is good i will order a second set for later.

[Maximus Ram]

So who did you guys take your retreads to , to be mounted ??
local tire guy, America's or similar ?

[roninjiro]

i just take them to any professional, sometimes i do my own mounting..... i only do that b/c i use centramatic wheel balancers.

[Fergie]

So who did you guys take your retreads to , to be mounted ??
local tire guy, America's or similar ?
Took mine to Discount Tires, and they did it without issue. The manager was actually quite curious about them.

We're getting a decent sized storm through town now, with up to 2' expected; right now there is only a few inches of snow on top of some ice.

I aired the tires down to about 25 PSI and they did awesome. Out where we live, the roads werent plowed yet, so it was a good time driving.

They clear out well enough in wet snow.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/1991%20FJ80/FirstBigStorm12-7-09004.jpg

[jeffryscott]

Just pulled the trigger on a set myself. Opted for the less aggressive, but hopefully better road mannered Sentinel AT (the Revo clone). Less than 400 shipped. Requested matching carcasses, so it may delay things a bit.

Will report back when I get them installed. May go for another set, the MT's if I like them as I have another set of rims.

Hope they are as good as all the reports ....:smiley_drive:

[6string]

Hope they are as good as all the reports ....:smiley_drive:

Interested for follow-up. Subscribed. :coffee:

[Maximus Ram]

There's some reviews in this thread also

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35432

[biglos454]

well i just clocked 15k on my retreads. still holding up strong. plenty of road time on trips to Mexico and plenty of time in the mud and sand. Ive rotated them every 4k and i currently have 11/32nds all around. i still love them and i will definitely be buying another set for my daily driver when these are gone

[getlost4x4]

i'm pretty interested in running these Treadwright tires.

i currently have BFG Mud KM's with over 50K on them. they need to be replaced sometime soon.

What i'm wondering about is:

Can they be aired down for off-road use?

What is the max speed rating? (I never go 100mph but i do pass people and get up to 95 mph pretty quick)

[sargeek]

I had their older OTR Mud tires w/ green diamonds mounted on a TJ used as a daily driver. The tires saw speeds of 75-80 MPH on a regular basis and were aired down for off road operations with now problems. Make sure that you ask for a matched set of tires, and wait for off road tire donations from BFG or Goodyear Wranglers.

[biglos454]

i'm pretty interested in running these Treadwright tires.

i currently have BFG Mud KM's with over 50K on them. they need to be replaced sometime soon.

What i'm wondering about is:

Can they be aired down for off-road use?

What is the max speed rating? (I never go 100mph but i do pass people and get up to 95 mph pretty quick)

I don't know about airing down but the speed rating on my treadwrights is 90mph. Ive had them faster for passing purposes plenty of times, but im pretty sure that short sprints don't hurt. i wouldn't hold them over 90 for an extended period of time though.

[getlost4x4]

i called treadwright about the tires they are selling.

they said they are speed rated to 95 mph. :victory:

looks like i'll be getting a set of these for the commander in the guard dogs.

[spencyg]

I have aired down my Treadwrights many times without any negative problems. They conform great, no delamination issues, etc. I can't say enough about these tires...

[jeffryscott]

Awesome first impressions. Ordered the Treadwright's the afternoon or evening Dec. 31, received them via FedEx ground this morning (Jan. 6, 2010) The tires are on BFG AT D-range carcasses and look amazing.

Took them to Discount just now and have them mounted - going to go take them for a spin here in a minute to test at highway speeds.

Considering there was a major holiday and a weekend following my order, I'm shocked I received them so quickly. If the tires are as good as the service, then there is now doubt what I'll be doing for future purchases.:smiley_drive:

[JeepN95YJ]

I ordered 265/70r16 Guard Dogs, load range D, yesterday. $429 shipped for 4 tires. Looking forward to receiving them and installing.

[OTR]

Too bad shipping would cost me $704 for 4 tires:(

[Bill Beers]

Too bad shipping would cost me $704 for 4 tires:(

Where the heck do you live?

[Buckshot62]

Called Treadwright about my tires today.BFG AT'S with 17,000 miles on them.
sidewall tread started cracking above where it was bonded to the carcass.Will see what they say about them.To be continued!

[OTR]

Where the heck do you live?

I live in North Pole, Alaska with Santa Claus. At least until my contract is up in May, then to somewhere warm:)

[Faol]

Where the heck do you live?

+1. I paid $526, for 5 tires (31x10.5x15 ATs), delivered to my door.

[Fergie]

Just a small update.

My Cruiser has been sitting for close to 3 weeks due to travel and also a bad sensor that was on order.

The temps ranged from -10 to the low 40s. When I drove the vehicle the other day, I didn't feel any flat spots in the tires and they hadnt lost any air.

Still doing well.

[Buckshot62]

Update:
I was p.m.ed by Joel @Treadwright and informed to resubmit my warranty claim again(It didn't go thru and he saw my post on here!).Looks like we may have found a company that actually cares about customer service!(Fingers crossed waiting on reply)

[JeepN95YJ]

I ordered 265/70r16 Guard Dogs, load range D, yesterday. $429 shipped for 4 tires. Looking forward to receiving them and installing.

Tires arrived today. Scheduled to have them installed tomorrow.

[JeepN95YJ]

Tires look nice. Ride great. They do have a "hum" that the MTRs didn't have when they were new, but they are much quieter than the roar the MTRs developed as they aged.

[sargeek]

I bet the MT/R tread design on BFG A/T tire hulls will confuse the heck out some people:Wow1:

[biglos454]

I bet the MT/R tread design on BFG A/T tire hulls will confuse the heck out some people:Wow1:

lol it can be pretty interesting. i have the MTR tread on BFG All terrain carcasses. i had most of my friends believing they were a new design for the BFG all terrain, and i recieved a set for road testing because i know someone who works for BFG. lol some actually still believe that after all these months.:elkgrin:

[CYi5]

Red87's new MTR tread on Yokohama sidewalls. They looked pretty sweet to me, especially on the taco rims. The rubber was pretty soft from what I felt, so I understand the shortened tread life on these retreads. 265/75/16 Load Rating D.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rlmfpXISVMM/S1Eh4vDwYjI/AAAAAAAAGyg/Djq3TSCcJWE/s800/IMG_1163.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rlmfpXISVMM/S1EhCMtTUnI/AAAAAAAAGyM/P05UkeqBgKE/s800/IMG_1157.JPG

[JeepN95YJ]

Tires look nice. Ride great. They do have a "hum" that the MTRs didn't have when they were new, but they are much quieter than the roar the MTRs developed as they aged.

After 1000 miles I'd report they ride smooth. The "hum" is more of a "whine" and much louder than a BFG AT, MT or new Goodyear MTR. Annoying and reminds me of the Super Swamper TSLs I used to run on my YJ. Not as loud as a TSL but noticeable.

I'd also say the re-tread doesn't feel as "solid" as the MTR or BFG AT. The Jeep wanders in it's lane quite a bit. I am replacing the shocks this weekend. Maybe that will help.

[6string]

After 1000 miles I'd report they ride smooth. The "hum" is more of a "whine" and much louder than a BFG AT, MT or new Goodyear MTR. Annoying and reminds me of the Super Swamper TSLs I used to run on my YJ. Not as loud as a TSL but noticeable.

I'd also say the re-tread doesn't feel as "solid" as the MTR or BFG AT. The Jeep wanders in it's lane quite a bit. I am replacing the shocks this weekend. Maybe that will help.

Interesting. Thank you for the thorough update. I'm curious to know, if over more time, you'd do it again; was it worth it? I'll stay tuned...
:coffee:

[6string]

Okay, so I just couldn't take it anymore. I broke down last week and tossed down the dough for five TreadWright Wardens on BFG AT carcasses in a 265/75r16, non-Kedge and Class D. Paid $523 total to Arkansas... needless to say, at that price we're off to a great start. :)

Purchased via telephone on Feb 2. Shipped on Feb 5. Delivered on Feb 11.

Mounted today. The tech didn't even know they were retreads. Unless you know what you're looking for, or notice the small "TreadWright" written at the top edge of the sidewall, you'd prolly never notice, either.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Taco/IMG_2296.jpg
If you look closely, you can see the "blurry rubber" area on the sidewall where the old and new are fused.
Looks like curb rash if you didn't know otherwise.


So how did the tech learn they were retreads?! :mad:

...after about 20 minutes of trying to get the first tire to balance, he came over to me and said, "I think that tire's out of true. I can see it wobbling as it spins on the balancer." He invited me over to see for myself, and sure enough, it was wobbling like a peg-legged duck. It was like the tread was applied crooked; not square/perpendicular with the direction of spin. I was not happy. At that point, I told him to go ahead and do his best to finish the rest.

Eight ounces of weight on that wheel! :Wow1: Six on another. A 4.5 on the next. Two 2s on the final two. That's a LOT of weight. (As an aside, the Bridgestone A/T Revos that I just took off never took one outboard weight during their entire life. These new TreadWrights required weights all over the outside... looks like freakin' miniature beadlocks or something.) As for spin: two tires spun true to the eye, the other three had the wobble. He put one of the wobblers on the spare, and the other two wobblers in the rear. The fronts got the best two tires.

On the road, I immediately felt a difference. Although the B'stones were Class D also, these TWs feel a bit softer. Don't get me wrong, I kinda like it sometimes, as this Taco's still my DD and the plush ride is quite comfortable. But, the tires lack the responsive feedback of the 'Stones in the corners when I press into them. They're just soft. I'll decide how much I like/dislike this over more time in more conditions.

Noise is nominal. I can barely hear a very slight hum at highway speeds. Small enough change that it's almost not worth mentioning.

Speaking of highway speeds... I was a very worried about the wobbly tires. I thought for sure the truck would be all over the place. Well, up to the interstate I went, and ran it right up to 80mph. I must say, all concerns were placed to rest. I was very skeptical and immediately began looking/feeling/listening for something to dislike; I really had it in mind that I'd be calling the company tomorrow to "talk to a manager." But no, not too bad! :D Sure, they are not as smooth as my B'stones have been for the last few years, but then again, those 'Stone were more than 2x the price.

There is a noticeable vibration that wasn't there before. I feel it in the steering wheel. My daughter says she felt it in her seat, but I could not feel that vibration from the driver's seat. Under braking, they're straight and smooth. Coasting downhill in neutral at 70mph on smooth asphalt proved to be quiet with only a slight vibration. I would relate this vibration to that of a standard MT tread. Not an "Oh Shi---" vibration like a unbalanced wheel or bent driveshaft, just a sort of "mmmmmm" vibration.

For what I paid for these, I can totally live. I am generally pleased at the end of day one. I haven't done enough testing yet to recommend them or not.


EDIT FOR INTERSTATE, HIGHWAY, AND TRAIL REVIEW

Okay, so I've had them on for a few days now. I took a trip down to Hot Springs Sat morning. That gave me a chance to check the high-speed I-30 and the curvy, mountainous state Hwy 70. These new tires were at 34psi. (FYI: My B'stones stayed at 35.)

No problems at high speeds. No bothersome or worrisome vibration, no noticeable increase in noise, and no major defects like chunking or other. However, these tires are going to take some getting used to. The firm responsiveness of the B'stones made me feel much more secure while cornering at 50mph+. These TWs feel squishy and a little spongy in the turns. In the flats, they feel sort of twitchy, like I am having to put more feedback into keeping a straight line.

It's not a dangerous feeling, but I certainly feel like it takes more "driving" to control them. (For what it's worth, the B'stone Dueler A/T Revos I had were freaking amazing--as in, likely the best all-around tire I've ever owned kind of good. Any new tire has a tall order to fill. That said...)


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Ouachita%20Recon/IMG_0637.jpg
Droppin' pressure

Once I got off the highway, I took them down to 16psi. Remarkable on the trail. I blasted down improved USFS roads at 40mph plus with a cushy ride, flexed through rocky and rutted logging trails where the sidewalls were stressed under a fully-loaded Taco, I tried unsuccessfully to break the back end loose on snow pack multiple times, and I wallowed in mud just 'cause it was there. Wow, literally EVERYTHING I would expect from a new BFG AT KO I got in spades from the TW Warden. I am not being compensated to say this.


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Ouachita%20Recon/IMG_0650.jpg
Sidewall deformation at 16psi.


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Ouachita%20Recon/IMG_0700.jpg
After close to 80 miles off-pavement, I stopped to air up before heading home. In an effort to overcome the sponginess I got the day prior, I took them to 38psi. Much better. I paid a small price in low-speed comfort--crossing some R/R tracks was more jarring than I am accustomed to--but, at higher speeds the tires feel much more stable. I will be keeping these TWs at or near 38 as long as they wear evenly by doing so.


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Ouachita%20Recon/IMG_0703.jpg
Snowy and very wet mtn roads were no prob as far as traction was concerned.

After the trip I gave each tire a thorough once-over. All good. No visible damage after two long days pushing them.

I will continue to edit this post and provide more feedback from time-to-time. I know many of you are on the fence regarding TW tires, and I want y'all to know my story.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/craiglow/Ouachita%20Recon/IMG_0670.jpg
Post-install. Lovin' the 1" taller tire!

Hope this helps.

[roninjiro]

funny you say that. had the same problem with one of my retreads. except i found out maybe a month later by someone that was following me somewhere. they told me that my driver rear was wobbling, and i jacked it up and sure enough the tread wasn't fused true to the carcass. besides that the other three are true, and i haven't had a problem with the wobbly one. about the balancing thing, i wouldn't know because i use centramatic wheel balancers on all 4. i get a nice even hum on the highway and no handling or additional vibrations. so far so good for me

[6string]

about the balancing thing, i wouldn't know because i use centramatic wheel balancers on all 4. i get a nice even hum on the highway and no handling or additional vibrations. so far so good for me

How do you like them? Worth the coin?

[roninjiro]

yes definitely. it is very relaxing to know the tires always wear even and always stay balanced. at first you will notice the beads they use in the ring when you start to move or come to a stop... but after a few days you get used to it. you will only hear the balancers with the windows down and in quiet places.

the reason why i went and spent the cash on it was because my father is a over the road owner operator and swears by them. after my use i can too. it is just the intial cost that scares you. the way i seen it, it will pay for it's self in tire longivity (which is true in my case).

the company is based out of alvarado,tx btw

[6string]

Bump for an update to my review (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=563227&postcount=102) after a weekend in the woods.

[6string]

yes definitely. it is very relaxing to know the tires always wear even and always stay balanced. at first you will notice the beads they use in the ring when you start to move or come to a stop... but after a few days you get used to it. you will only hear the balancers with the windows down and in quiet places.

the reason why i went and spent the cash on it was because my father is a over the road owner operator and swears by them. after my use i can too. it is just the intial cost that scares you. the way i seen it, it will pay for it's self in tire longivity (which is true in my case).

the company is based out of alvarado,tx btw

Super good to know. Thanks! I have never really considered using them until now. These new TWs just take so much weight. If they wear unevenly, I may make the change. Small price to pay when you're saving so much on tires.

Thanks again.

[BKCowGod]

Bump for an update to my review (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=563227&postcount=102) after a weekend in the woods.

Great review and re-review. I love my MT's on the Jeep, and am about to get some 30x9.5 AT's for the Nissan.

[sxharr05]

Any updates on these after a year+? Any wear issues or safety concerns?

[roninjiro]

I will give an year+ updated..... still going strong, no separation, no unusual or abnormal wear, same as they were new.

[sami]

I just purchased 4ea 285/75-16 Guard Dogs in load range E for $488.15 shipped. Should ship in 4-5 weeks as they're backordered items. These will be going on my '06 Nissan Xterra with 2" OME lift, rock sliders, and loaded with gear. Hopefully this year will see a front and/or rear bumper addition; just to give an idea of the size/load of the vehicle.

I'll try to report back my experiences with this set of tires.

[getlost4x4]

3 day Review of Treadwright tires.

http://getlost4x4.com/?p=365

I purchased the 245/75/16's load range E in the BFG knock-off's All Terrain. So far, AWESOME!..

[bdbecker]

Another TreadWright Disciple here... I've had a set of 285/75R16 Warden E's (BFG AT cores) on my '03 F150 for nearly 10 months now. They've pulled me through snow and mud without issue. I gave them a really good workout when hauled home a new project (1964 F100) on a bumper pull tandem axle trailer almost 300 miles. Nothing but good things to say. I've found that on my truck, keeping the pressure between 55 and 60 PSI is the magic number for even wear. The E load rating and high pressure makes for a rough ride, or so my passengers tell me, I guess I'm just used to it. Much less rolly-polly in the curves compared to the old Dayton Timberline AT's I used to have. I'm eyeing a set of 235/85R16 Crawler M/T's to slap on my factory steels for winter... maybe...

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m4/bdbecker_2006/EXPO/IMG_5438cropped.jpg

[LukeHooligan]

I'm on my second set of treadwrights, first set was the wardens, current set is the guard dogs. Have been very happy with both other than having to get used to how loud the guard dogs are, doesn't bother me now though. Currently have no reason not to keep buying them.
-Luke-

[Schattenjager]

I bought a set of 285/75/16 Wardens for my first FZJ80. Looked great and performed as expected. I sold the rig to ExPo member Car-Car who took it on vacation with his bride and two wee ones. The TreadWrights failed and rolled the rig a few times. Had the Good Lord not intervened, the story would have been very grim. The re-treads failed. They failed in only a way a re-tread could fail. They nearly killed a family. I researched them and decided to buy them thinking as many in this thread do. No more.

The small amount of money saved is not worth the potential disaster. Unless of course you have a crystal ball that can guarantee your passengers safety. If your so smart you can ignore the possibility, then have your wife etc. riding with you read the thread below and see how much they appreciate you putting them on those tires.

Isolated incident? It only takes it happening to you once, right?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/56847-Almost-Didn’t-Make-It-Back….

[stomperxj]

I'm on my 3rd set of OTR Muds on my cherokee. Love these tires. They are a bit loud but still great tires...

[getlost4x4]

I have about 8K miles on the tires now. they have been great with countless trips between Montana and Wyoming. Lots of four wheeling this summer. And even a trip down to Salt Lake City and back to Montana. Not one problem. i keep mine at 29psi. They ride great, and do great off road. i've been pretty happy with them.

2001 Range Rover HSE 4.6
OME Springs, Bilstien Shocks.
245/75/16 Wardens Load Range E:Wow1:

They are wearing great. They still look brand new. I never air them down off-road. i keep them at 29psi all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQadwZpp0GY

[madmanvillain]

I have nearly 20k on my 245/75R16 PUMA A/T (E) and absolutely love them. Took 2 tries to balance them, but they run great now. If you follow their directions, dont air them down, rotate them 2500(?) miles, and dont over load them, I doubt they will fail under normal conditions. But with that said, off roading isnt a normal condition for tires. Sidewall rubbing isnt good for any tire. When you are fully loaded then drop off a shelf it puts huge stresses on the tires. Would I buy them again? Yes. Would I buy them for a vehicle that is going to see high stress and be driven on the highway? Probably not.

[onelow1ton]

I have the treadwright guard dogs in 315/70/17 on my Colorado and love them so far I have about 4000 miles on them and they balanced up super easy first try and with minimal weight most of the weight is on the oposit side of the tpms and I have them on super heavy procomp steel D-windows and I would buy them again with out a second thought

[timh]

I tried some Treadwrights a while back. Bought the guard dogs and put them on my Xterra. 2 of the 4 would not balance within spec so they replaced them at no charge. One of the 2 replacements came with the tread already seperating from the casing. It was at this point that I did not feel comfortable running them anymore and asked for my money back. I do give a lot of respect to Treadwright for doing so without question or hassle, they seem like a very stand-up company.:)

For the few days that I did have the tires on the truck it just would not drive straight and always had a vibration. When I ditched the retreads and bought new tires it felt so smooth it was amazing.

With all the good reviews on here I really hoped to be happy with them but it just wasn't in the cards for me I guess. I won't really knock them but I personally won't run them and I hope this information is usefull for anyone trying to make a decision.

[onelow1ton]

Well that sucks to hear timh . I was the oposit I was learry of buying them and not sure how well they would balance and to my surprise they balanced better then my old pro comp xtarrains and also better than my wife's procomp mtr's and my buddy has a ton more weights on his km2's then my treadwrights I was very impressed

[ExploringNH]

I've been running a set of TreadWright Guard Dogs in 285/75/16 flavor for about 15k miles of Central and South American roads. So far, I love them. I've certainly pushed these tires harder than any tire I have ever owned. They are wearing really well, despite my poor maintenance. I often run them severely under inflated and I still haven't rotated them. They are fairly loud and that is my only complaint. I drove on them for about 100 miles before I had a chance to balance them (mounted them myself). I didn't have any noticeable vibration or shake up to 65mph (the fastest I went during that time). When I finally did get them balanced they took about as much weight as my previous BFG KM2s.

763927639376394763957639676397

[jonesw3]

I have a set of TW Wardens with about 3000 miles on them. I absolutely love them! I recently returned from a weekend trip that rained the entire time and I never once ( in 80 offroad miles) felt like the tires couldnt handle it. I would highly reccommend them.

[iMTB]

I have 215/85 duratracs now. I'm considering going to 235/85 TR crawler mts next. I'm not one to go for cheap tires, but the reviews make them sound like the best way to go.

[getlost4x4]

I've had mine on for about a year now on my 2001 Range Rover HSE. I've put about 8000 miles on them since I installed them. I still have not rebalanced them. They work great.

I've taken 2 trips with them from Billings Montana down to Salt Lake City and back. Going 80 mph most of the way. Feel great!

I've put a few thousand miles on them off road as well. GREAT TIRES! I'm running 245/75/16's Load Range E, the Warden Pattern. I'll definitely buy another pair if these ever wear out. They still look like new.

I usually run them at 25psi. When it snows and the streets get icy in town i lower the pressure to 17 psi. The grip well in all types of crap. From mud to snow to sandstone rock, they are great.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408121_10150496855845028_599460027_8960879_8445527 8_n.jpg

[NC_IslandRunner]

I've been running a set of TreadWright Guard Dogs in 285/75/16 flavor for about 15k miles of Central and South American roads. So far, I love them. I've certainly pushed these tires harder than any tire I have ever owned. They are wearing really well, despite my poor maintenance. I often run them severely under inflated and I still haven't rotated them. They are fairly loud and that is my only complaint. I drove on them for about 100 miles before I had a chance to balance them (mounted them myself). I didn't have any noticeable vibration or shake up to 65mph (the fastest I went during that time). When I finally did get them balanced they took about as much weight as my previous BFG KM2s.

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Agreed, Treadwright GuardDogs are awesome tires. Been running then since Nov. last year 2 offroad events and no complaints and no chunking.
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[Martinjmpr]

You can't really know the cost savings until you run through a set.

Seems to me for the risks involved, there isn't much of a cost savings.

Back in August I paid about $750 to have 4 Hankook Dynapro AT-M's installed at Discount Tire. Assuming you could get a set of Treadwrights for $450 that's a savings of $300 (but does that price include installation or any kind of road hazard warranty?)

Now figure that the Hankook's have a 50k mile treadlife warranty so I can comfortably figure I'll get that many miles, which works out to roughly 1.5 cents per mile.

The hypothetical Treadwrights at $450 would knock that down to about .9 cents per mile. Now a 60% savings sounds great, but in dollars and cents, that means for a truck like mine that gets driven about 11,000 miles/year (I have a separate Daily Driver) that works out to $165/year on tires for the Hankooks or $99/year for the retreads.

And of course, the above number-crunching is a best-case scenario. If that $450 doesn't include installation or road hazard, or if the tires last less than 50,000 miles, the savings diminish even further.

To me, at least, the ability to air down, the ability to have an easy balancing tire and the reliability of a new tire from a known manufacturer and installation by a dealer with shops all over the country is worth $66/year.

Of course, that's just me. Your mileage may vary! ;)

[onelow1ton]

I'll only comment on the balancing part but my guard dogs balanced up way better with less weight than any name brand mt I have ever had installed on any of my vehicles and so far are looking like I'm finally going to get some decent milage out of so mt tires

[Desert Dan]

In my opinion..
Knowing the use/abuse my tires get....



When my tires/carcasses are done and worn out I wouldn't want anyone else to to ride on them.
Maybe in a dual wheel application or off road only but not at high speed.

[92BurbanAZ]

yea i went back and fourth on wanting them and like many others said when i took into accound the tires, shipping, mounting (if your local shop will even do it) then the cost saved wasnt hugem then when i add in worrying about the tires themselves it just didnt seem worth it to me. Im sure most of the time their great tires but i have heard many stories going both ways, the biggest issue ive heard people having was the company retreading over damaged carcasses with nails or something in them. The company seems to take care of the customers but if im stuck in the middle of the desert because 2 of my tires seperated knowing that the company will replace them wont do me much good.

[reece146]

When my tires/carcasses are done and worn out I wouldn't want anyone else to to ride on them.
Maybe in a dual wheel application or off road only but not at high speed.

This. Fatigue isn't just a theory.

[Martinjmpr]

Dumb question, maybe, but can they recycle old tires into new tires? I know it's not as simple as just melting them down and pouring new ones (because there are steel and other materials in there) but it seems to me that with all the old tires around, somebody ought to be able to figure out how to recycle tires in a manner that is both safe and cost effective.

[camper357]

Google is your friend. There is a reason why recycled tires are made into new tires.

[BigSwede]

I bought a set of 285/75/16 Wardens for my first FZJ80. Looked great and performed as expected. I sold the rig to ExPo member Car-Car who took it on vacation with his bride and two wee ones. The TreadWrights failed and rolled the rig a few times. Had the Good Lord not intervened, the story would have been very grim. The re-treads failed. They failed in only a way a re-tread could fail. They nearly killed a family. I researched them and decided to buy them thinking as many in this thread do. No more.

The small amount of money saved is not worth the potential disaster. Unless of course you have a crystal ball that can guarantee your passengers safety. If your so smart you can ignore the possibility, then have your wife etc. riding with you read the thread below and see how much they appreciate you putting them on those tires.

Isolated incident? It only takes it happening to you once, right?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/56847-Almost-Didn’t-Make-It-Back….

This happens with new tires too. The rate of failure between new or retread tires would be the question.