Retread, or no?

[79chevyc20]

Hey guys, I am looking for a set of tires that will not be worth as much as the truck itself, So I am looking into either used tires, or a set of retreads. It is a 2wd 79 c20, and I need some mud tires to get around in the winter, I only drive about 40 miles a day. I was wondering what you guys would suggest, should I search for a good set of used tires, or just use a set of retreads which cost about half the price and have full tread on them? I am looking for tires for the stock rims on this truck (7x16?) What would be a good size (in metric) for this rim if I want about a 31-33 inch tire?
Thanks,
Tom

[Kevin108]

I ran a set of retreads for about 3 months on my S-10 before I sold it.  I bought them from www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html  They were 30x9.50-15 mud tires.  I thought they were GREAT tires!  I played with them in mud, on trails and ran them on the street full time.  They hummed a little bit but they had a really aggressive tread.  It was 16/32nds deep new.  They come with a 20,000 mile warranty and are DOT legal.  The set I got came on Michelin LTX M/S casings and balanced easily.  Tires plus shipping from ND to VA I think I paid $260.  I'd say go for their 235/85 R16 (roughly 32x9.50) mud tire.  In snow you usually want to dig down to the hard stuff and a wider tire wouldn't not facilitate that as well.  You're looking at like $100 plus shipping with their tires...

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
My Mods | Truck Pics | E-mail Me

Edited by: Kevin108 at: 8/5/02 10:27:09 pm

[roundedline]

Kevin108

How well did the retreads hold up?  Were there any visible signs of wear?  Also, how about ride quality.  Did you feel safe driving on these tires?  The prices look great.  I just don't want to get bitten in the end.

[Kevin108]

Well I probably put only 1000 miles or less but there were no signs of wear.  I ran them up to 100 mph or so on more than one occasion.  I felt just as safe with them as any other tire.  I think they're fine tires.  Ride quality was excellent.  Of course being mud tires they hummed a little, but other than that I was totally happy with them!

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
My Mods | Truck Pics | E-mail Me

[RSBAD454]

oh heck no, dont buy retreads, that is the crappiest way you can go. you can never tell if they will hold up or let you down. save up and buy a set of new ones. you buy cheap you buy twice.

[blazer1961]

Have you ever seen chunks of rubber on the roadways???? well there recaps!! i've bought recaps in the past ONCE. and after 500 miles on on the way across PA with my wife and kids in the car, and at highway speed guess what happened? thats right it fell apart. It held the air but the ride was'nt to good. thank God it was on the back of the car!!

[Kevin108]

The little chunks aren't all from retreads.  They're from all tires.  The aligators, where the whole tread peels off, is from the sidewalls unzipping and that can happen to any tire.  I ran my retreads in the summer at least up to 90 mph for 20 minutes at a time or so.  Did yours have a 20,000 mile warranty?  To me that says a heck of a lot about their product.

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
My Mods | Truck Pics | Kevin108@PavementSucks.com
Maker of 43 point turns!

[Blazin]

As long as they are what is called cold recaping you should be allright.

[RSBAD454]

heck no but new............i wouldnt trust retread or recapped tires, look at all those diesel blowouts..........

Toys are my game

[Houston Terrell]

hgtr

[Blazin]

When I worked at one of our local oil/propane companies we ran nothing but retreads on the back of our trucks. We had 64 trucks in our branch. the company as a whole owned over 500 trucks. All the other branches ran recaps as well. We never had a recap tire failure problem. I also filled in for delivery guys when needed, I felt pefectly safe driving a propane truck down the highway at top sped in the summer heat as well as plowing through snow and mud in the dead of winter.

[jthomas12287]

i had a little danger ranger with a set 0f the 30x9.50x 15 and i put well over 40000 miles on the retreads from hi tech and i just bought a set for my colorado and they are the way to go. like it was already said they are noisy but look at the tread pattern on the guard dogs they are gonna be noisy!!!

[Da67goatman]

Dude, you just replied to a post that's over 8 years old.

[jthomas12287]

yeah i know i look to stir the pot a little!!!

[Edahall]

I ran a set of retreads for about 3 months on my S-10 before I sold it.  I bought them from <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html">www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END-->  They were 30x9.50-15 mud tires.  I thought they were GREAT tires!  I played with them in mud, on trails and ran them on the street full time.  They hummed a little bit but they had a really aggressive tread.  It was 16/32nds deep new.  They come with a 20,000 mile warranty and are DOT legal.  The set I got came on Michelin LTX M/S casings and balanced easily.  Tires plus shipping from ND to VA I think I paid $260.  I'd say go for their 235/85 R16 (roughly 32x9.50) mud tire.  In snow you usually want to dig down to the hard stuff and a wider tire wouldn't not facilitate that as well.  You're looking at like $100 plus shipping with their tires... <p><b>87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup</b>
<a href="http://www.pavementsucks.com/gallery/viewride.cgi?ride_id=355" target="_blank">My Mods</a><font color=#ffff00><b> | </b></font><a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/39000270gLAeZe" target="_blank">Truck Pics</a><font color=#ffff00><b> | </b></font><a href="mailto:kevin108@pavementsucks.com">E-mail Me</a></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub73.ezboard.com/ukevin108.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Kevin108</A> at: 8/5/02 10:27:09 pm
</i>

I bought a set of these retread tires 30x9.50 15 inch for my 1982 Suburban.  It's been probably 5 years or so now and I've put over 20k miles and haven't had an issue.  They are also wearing like iron.  I hardly notice any wear at all.  I've also had it to 105 mph which is the fastest the truck will go with the anemic 6.2 diesel.  I have the smoother tread design and get no noise.  They drive just like a normal tire.