Funding for truck & car tyre retreading study

Established in 2020, AZuR is a German-based innovation network for end-of-life tyre recycling with a membership list that includes retreading and recycling firms, academia and state agencies. After receiving financial support from Germany’s government for the first ten months of its existence, AZuR has been self-funded under the patronage of the German Rubber Manufacturers Association (wdk) since June 2021. The network recently began a major study into the ecological and economic aspects of retreading, and reported yesterday that the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) has committed to support this work.

In addition to technical assistance, DBU will provide funding to the tune of approximately 91,000 euros. This covers 70 per cent of the study’s costs. The remaining 30 per cent will be provided by the following partners: Kraiburg Austria GmbH & Co. KG, Marangoni Retreating Systems, Reifen Hinghaus GmbH, Reiff Süddeutschland Reifen und KFZ-Technik GmbH, Rigdon GmbH, Rösler Tyre Innovators and RuLa-BRW GmbH.

Great potential

A key aim of the project is to find new and sustainable solutions for the 570,000 or so tonnes of end-of-life tyres that Germany must deal with each year. AZuR views retreading as a “form of recovery with great potential” that could be “exploited much more.” It notes that despite their good environmental footprint, retreaded tyres “still have a negative reputation” due to, amongst other factors, out-of-date information. A new study into the subject is thus long overdue.

The AZuR study includes an extensive range of measures to improve the image of retreaded tyres. It will look into the environmental aspects of two commercial vehicle tyre dimensions (drive axle and trailer axle fitments) as well as two passenger car tyre dimensions. It will additionally examine these environmental aspects from an economic perspective and the study will place product quality under the magnifying glass. In order to better inform end users, AZuR will also measure rolling resistance values for both commercial vehicle and car tyres.

The network will publish information gleaned from the study on a brand-neutral website targeted at fleet operators, businesses and ordinary drivers alike. The site will incorporate an eco-balance calculator and provide links to companies that offer retreads. AZuR will also develop a ‘quality label’ within the framework of the project and engage in public relations and lobbying.

Focus on car tyre retreading

While retreads account for almost a third of Germany’s commercial vehicle tyre market in Germany, hardly any passenger cars drive on retreaded tyres. AZuR says it wants to change this. “With the DBU-funded project, retreaded tyres should also become a promising option for motorists. Because retreads are eco-friendly tyres: They conserve natural resources and require less energy to manufacture.” It adds that retreads also “make sense financially” and are “comparable in quality to good new tyres.”

Azur has already begun work on the study and will complete the evaluation within two years.