When car and truck tires become worn, they can be restored with new tread. According to the Tire Retread Information Bureau, there is no significant difference in quality between new and retreaded tires. Many tires can be repeatedly re-treaded, delaying the landfill disposal of the tire. Large truck tires are typically retreaded as part of a routine tire-management program. Smaller tires, such as those used on passenger cars, can also be retreaded, although fleet managers typically prefer to purchase new tires. Two reasons are cited for this preference. First, the low cost of new tires purchased through large government contracts makes it difficult for retreads to compete and, second, retread passenger tires are perceived to have a higher defect rate than new tires, presenting safety concerns that must be resolved before they can be used.
In 2005, the County spent $260,000 to retread tires for trucks and other heavy equipment at the Renton Maintenance Facility, Fleet Administration Division and Solid Waste Operations. This not only avoided landfill disposal of tires, but also saved the County approximately $260,000 in new-tire expense, as retreading a tire is half the cost of buying a new tire.
Technical Specifications (2005)
It is the intent of these specifications to describe the minimum acceptable performance standards for obtaining Tire Recapping Services and related items. The specifications are not intended to limit competition, but to ensure that only quality products are received. King County shall be notified, and these specifications amended, when new industry standards are set or existing standards are superseded.
A. Parts supplied to King County shall be rated as Commercial and/or Industrial Grade. Contractors shall bid their nationally known, first line, premium quality products.
B. COLD PROCESS TIRE RECAPPING: The rubber shall be Domestic Production Factory Cold Processed, pre-cured rubber at approximately 600-1400PSI; cured by direct pressure in a chamber structure with a maximum bonding temperature of 215 Degrees F. The rubber shall also be uniformly compounded and puncture resistant.
C. HOT PROCESS TIRE RECAPPING: The rubber used shall be of Domestic Production high quality, premium truck rubber; tire tread shall be a full tread.
D. INSPECTION: In order to determine casing integrity, which is critical to the retreading process, King County requires the use of Electronic, Holographic x-ray or Ultrasonic Inspection Equipment, to detect holes, belt separations or other internal defects which cannot be observed visually.
E. Offerors shall have the ability to do nail hole, bead, crown and sidewall injury repairs plus section and spot in both radial and bias ply tires.
F. The cost of recapping, plus any injury repair, section and/or spot , shall not exceed 70% of the price of a new tire based on the Goodyear net state cost schedule. Any tire that cannot be repaired, using the criteria defined in this specification, shall be disposed of at an established tire waste disposal facility by the Contractor after final inspection at delivery locations referenced in Paragraph 4-2 (Delivery), at no cost to King County.
G. A “safety sticker” shall be placed on each recapped tire, describing the proper inflation procedure.
H. Inside of tires shall be thoroughly clean, no need to apply protective film. Loose patches and section repairs shall be redone at no extra cost.
- King County fleet managers are not yet satisfied that the cost and performance of retread passenger tires warrant their use on passenger vehicles.
Lease of Bus Tires and Associate Equipment
King County Metro Transit leases it's bus tires.
- General scope:
- Under this contract, the Contractor shall lease bus tires on a mileage basis to be used on vehicles now owned and operated by King County and on vehicles, which may be acquired during the contract. In addition, the Contractor shall provide service necessary to maintain and repair the tires supplied under this or previous contracts.
- Tire Requirements
- Tires shall be constructed and maintained so as to comply with all regulatory agency requirements. Regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires complying with local, state, federal and King County specifications may be used on all rear wheels of buses, including the bogie axle of articulated coaches. However, King County reserves the right to terminate this practice at any time and the change in cost will be processed under 3-2 Contract Changes. Regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires will not be permitted on front wheels.
King County Solid Waste manages a program to clean up litter and illegal dumpsites on public land throughout King County. King County maintains a contract for tire disposal and recycling. Following are the technical specifications used in the 2005 bid:
1-1 All tires accepted under the contract shall be reused as used or retreaded, reprocessed or granulated for incorporation into new products or shredded and used as tire derived fuel.
1-2 UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ANY TIRE HAULED FROM A KING COUNTY FACILITY OR OTHER LOCATION BE DISPOSED OF UNLAWFULLY OR PLACED IN A LANDFILL, UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL BY KING COUNTY.
1-3 Successful Vendor shall pick up tires at King County facilities as noted in Section 5-7, below, and yet to be determined location(s) when notified by King County. Time between notification and pick-up shall not exceed five (5) working days unless prior written approval by King County. Successful Vendor shall notify King County of the pick-up date.
1-4 Successful Vendor shall provide all labor and trucks for loading and transporting tires to Vendor’s facility.
1-5 Successful Vendor shall provide a receipt with each invoice indicating quantity and category of the tires picked up. THE RECEIPT SHALL INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF TIRES THAT WERE RECYCLED.
1-6 A King County staff person MUST BE ON SITE AND WITNESS the number of tires being picked up.
1-7 Accumulated waste tires will be at the following locations:
- King County contract for leasing bus tires:
- Bridgestone/Firestone N. American Tire
- King County contract for tire recycling:
- Tire Disposal & Recycling, Portland, OR (503)240-1919
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Updated: October, 2006
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