News You Can Use

RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE
April 9, 2014

AIRPLANES USE RETREADS?
NO WAY! YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING!

What you are about to read is a true story, it really happened.

By

Harvey Brodsky
Managing Director
Retread Tire Association

A few days ago I had to take a trip to Milwaukee that required me to be on several airplanes. I was NOT on RTA business during this trip but was traveling for a personal matter.

Since I usually dress casually while traveling I happened to be wearing a T-Shirt with the words RETREAD INSTEAD on the front.  When I was walking to my seat on one of the flight segments a woman in front of me turned and casually asked what the message was on my shirt. When I explained that I was in the retread industry and that virtually all commercial airlines flew on retreaded tires, including the plane we were on, all heck broke loose!

The woman blanched and her face was suddenly filled with fear. She was not kidding and actually began to shake. I tried to explain that airlines have been safely flying on retreads for years. It took some time for me to calm her down and it was only after about an hour after we took off, and some further explaining by me that she finally calmed down. By this time she was seated and her seatmates were also very frightened by the fact that we were all flying on an airplane using retreads. Her fear had become contagious.

Happily, after a lot of explaining I was able to take a problem and turn it into an opportunity to promote the economic and environmental benefits of retreaded tires on all types of vehicles, including airplanes. As I continued my explanation, with a very calm and friendly face, the passengers within hearing range were all becoming convinced that they would live to tell their loved ones of their experience of flying on an airplane with retreaded tires this day.

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY

We in the retread industry have long known how safe and environmentally friendly retreaded tires are on ALL types of vehicles, but since (sadly) too many people still do not trust retreads, we have an obligation whenever possible to explain how safe retreads really are, and how much they save consumers, not only in money, but how they help the recycling effort.

We can do this by never missing the opportunity to speak up on behalf of our industry by volunteering to speak at service clubs and other organizations that would like to be enlightened about the safety, economic and environmental benefits of retreaded tires.

The retread industry has much to be proud of and it is up to all of us to never miss the opportunity to spread the word!

If you would like more ideas regarding how you and your employees can help our ongoing efforts to promote retreading, please either phone me at 831-646-5269 or send an email to harvey@retreadtire.org. I'll be happy to hear from you.

HARVEY

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It's easier to try

Than to prove it can't be done

It's easier to stay

Than to turn around and run