Reiff Adds GT Radial to Retreading Program

Reiff Reifen operates a state of the art retreading facility in the German town of Reutlingen. This Bandag franchise operation retreads in excess of 40,000 truck tyres each year, all of which are subjected to strict quality control measures. All casings are inspected with a SDS shearography machine that can detect any minor internal separation, and all inspection data is recorded on the company’s mainframe. Tyre building is performed using a Bandag-AZ builder extruder and curing is carried out in four completely new installed Bandag electrical autoclaves. Reiff operates to ISO 9000 standard and contracts TÜV Automotive in Munich to endurance test its retreaded tyres to confirm compliance with ECE 109 regulation requirements.

The company also operates a significant number of tyre centres and has successfully sold GT Radial truck tyres for several years. Worn GT Radial casings are now coming back regularly for retreading. Reiff has now added GT Radial to its official purchasing list for casings, making it the only Chinese made brand purchased by Reiff.

Mr Dirk Rau, production manager for the Reutlingen operation, summarised his experience with the truck tyre brand to date: “The acceptance ratio for GT radial is so far 100 per cent. The GT Radial casing is considered very robust and has a significant under tread, which facilitates the retreading process. The shearography machine has accepted all casings. No specific issues with the buffing process have been reported.”

GITI Tire Europe is reported to be working closely with REIFF in evaluating further the retreadability of GT Radial casings. The casings of GT Radial tyres are, reports GITI Tire Europe, built with a capacity of single or multiple retreading, depending on user conditions. GITI Tire, China’s largest manufacturer of radial truck tyres, is rapidly gaining a high market acceptance in Europe for delivering high kilometres coupled with reliability and retreadability.