Our goal is to make retreads last as long as new tires from major brands.

 

Of course, it’s a particular challenge, but it was even more difficult to perform all the tests. Indeed, how to test tires that wear over several years by comparing new tires with retreaded ones? We already know that the operator makes a difference, and that the type of equipment and the work performed also make a difference. Things get more complicated! As if that were not enough, some customers changed their equipment during testing and/or one or more tires ruptured during their useful life.

 

We solved this problem by “X”-testing original tires against retreads of the same diameter, brand and model. What better place than a sawmill to perform the tests on equipment with our winter soles and why there? Because sawmills generally replace the buckets on their loader with forks. As a result, loaders usually become overloaded. In addition, some sawmills operate up to 24 hours a day and 6 or 7 days a week. This allowed us to see the results more quickly.

Our first generation of tire treads unfortunately wore too quickly. We decided to increase the ground surface in 2020 and reused an old design for all sizes because we now have proof that it works.

 

Ready for the results? Drum roll…:

 

Tire size: 23.5R25

Start of testing: January 27, 2021 (equipment: 19,750 machine hours)

Last reading: April 5, 2022 (equipment: 28,145 machine hours)

 

Thread depth:

Front left:

Michelin XSNOW 18/32”

Front right:

LSNOW retread 17/32”

Rear left:

Michelin XSNOW 21/32”

Rear right:

LSNOW retread 20/32”

 

We can now say that it is mission accomplished for our retreads, which cost roughly 50% of the price of a good original tire with a similar lifespan.

Lots of development work and testing, but the results are there! Congratulations to the whole team and thanks to the people of Bois Daaquam for their trust!

 

For all those interested!

The LanOTR team