Bridgestone promoting retreading with ‘The Bandag Contract of Trust’

Bridgestone introduced a further addition to its service portfolio for commercial vehicle operators at last month’s Reifen trade show in Germany – ‘The Bandag Contract of Trust.’ The tyre maker says this latest offers has been launched in order reassure fleets that Bandag retreaded tyres are not only a safe and reliable alternative to a new set of tyres, but also a solution for reducing fleets’ tyre related costs per kilometre. The Bandag Contract of Trust between Bandag dealers and fleet operators is being progressively rolled out across Europe and applies to tyres retreaded from both Bridgestone and Firestone casings.

“Some fleet operators have been slow to accept retreads in their tyre programme, comments Harald Van Ooteghem, senior manager of truck and bus tyre category management at Bridgestone Europe. “With The Bandag Contract of Trust, we aim to convince them that Bandag retreads, backed by Bridgestone, play a vital role in tyre management and operating efficiency.”

At the heart of The Bandag Contract of Trust is Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Life concept, which looks at a tyre throughout its entire life cycle. This approach argues that the combination of new tyres manufactured with fully-retreadable casings, followed by quality retreads, can help fleets to reduce their operating costs through a lower cost per kilometre over the whole tyre life.

“Our fleet customers who regularly use retreads in their tyre programme see the benefits clearly; they acknowledge that mounting retreads gives them a better return on investment and brings down the cost per kilometre,” adds Van Ooteghem.

The Bandag Contract of Trust provides fleets with three specific guarantees, under applicable conditions: A Bandag retread warranty for the same trouble-free performance expected from premium new tyres; a lower tyre cost per kilometre with Bandag retreads than the fleet’s fitted tyres; the assurance that Bridgestone and Firestone casings are 100 per cent suitable for retreading.

In addition to these advantages, Bridgestone stresses that retreading is also a green solution. On average, 70 per cent less oil is used to produce a retread compared with a new tyre, and up to 20 kilogrammes of steel and rubber.