News You Can Use

RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE
July 24, 2014

Carelessness and misuse
are the main causes of tread loss on roadways

A MESSAGE FROM HARVEY BRODSKY,
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE RETREAD TIRE ASSOCIATION

We are printing the following news release that was received from Vipal Rubber today. You will notice that TRIB is mentioned a number of times throughout the release and we have no problem with that, especially since much was written while I was the Managing Director of TRIB. Because we had nothing to do with the writing of the release, we cannot be held responsible for any statements in the article that you might not agree with. However, we are always happy to hear from any readers of this message who wish to learn more about our position regarding the main causes of tire debris on our highways. I can be reached by telephone at 831-646-5269 or by email to info@retreadtire.org.

THE VIPAL NEWS RELEASE

Pieces of rubber, known as "road alligators", are lost on the road due to a lack of maintenance for new and retreaded tires. Inappropriate use is the main cause of "road alligators" for new and retreaded tires.

Vipal Rubber, the leading tire retreading company in Latin America and one of the largest global manufacturers of tire retreading products, is working with the Brazilian Association for the Tire Retreading Industry (ABR) and the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) to provide more information about this type of rubber loss. The two organizations emphasize that these pieces of rubber are the results of inadequate maintenance and carelessness in the use of the tires.

The detachment of the tread or belt package generally occurs because of low tire pressures (below under the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation) and careless maintenance. TRIB highlights this issue through a study done by the Virginia State Police Department in the United States. The results proved that 86% of "road alligators" are caused by tires with pressure levels below the recommended amount.

According to TRIB, other relevant factors include overloading and surpassing the speed limit specified for the tire. The study done by the American bureau proves that most "road alligators" issues are caused by a lack of maintenance and care, factors that cannot be controlled by tire manufacturers or retreaders.

This is why the appropriate tire maintenance is so crucial, and why Vipal emphasizes that transporters must work with qualified retreaders. In addition to counting on an Authorized Dealer Network (310 retreaders in Latin America), Vipal has permanent regional teams and distribution centers in strategic locations that provide broad technical support in Brazil and worldwide.

In terms of performance, it is important to reinforce that retreaded tires offer their users the same security that new products do. There are currently various certifications around the world that can attest to the quality of these products. The United States Department of Transportation, for example, validates retreaded tires for passenger vehicles, 4x4s and trucks. In Brazil, tire retreading units must have an INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology - entity which regulates the country's technical norms) registration to operate.

Below is a list of Vipal tips for keeping truck tires in good condition and ready for retreading when needed:

• Periodically calibrate tires when they are cold and use the recommended pressures.
• Use nitrogen to calibrate tires.
• Periodically rotate the tires.
• Always keep the wheels clean, free of rust and in good condition.
• Perform periodical inspections to control tread wear.
• Periodically balance and align the tires.
• Mount and dismount the tires with the adequate tools.
• Remove the tire to be retreaded at the right time.
• Apply tire and inner tube repairs with the adequate products and skilled labor.
• Go to authorized retreaders who offer quality products and a service guarantee for the retreading process.
• Do not overload the vehicle.
• Use the brakes appropriately.
• Choose the type of tread design that is appropriate for the vehicle in question.  Each type of land requires a specific type of tread.


Vipal around the world

Present on every continent, Vipal recently designated one of its three factories in Brazil to produce solely for the international market. Vipal's main markets are in Europe, Latin America and the United States. In order to meet the needs of each location, which include technical requirements and cultural, geographic and legal differences, as well as maintaining authorized retreaders, permanent regional teams and distribution centers in strategic locations, the company invests in developing specific products to perform in different regions.

Currently, in addition to its three factories in Brazil, Vipal has distribution centers in the United States, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Australia, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. All of this is to provide excellent global services with a committed and efficient structure that can only be offered by a company that is familiar with roads around the world.

About Vipal

Vipal Rubber - http://www.vipal.com/ - was founded in 1973, in Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. With 3,000 employees, the company has two factories in Nova Prata and one in Feira de Santana in Bahia, which add up to a total of 160,000 m2 in industrial facilities and three distribution centers in Brazil. The company exports to every continent and has distribution centers in South and North America, Europe and Australia.

Vipal was the first Brazilian company in the industry to be certified with the ISO 9002, and also has the IS0 9001: 2008 and an IFBQ (Falcão Bauer Quality Institute)/INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) performance verification certification for its line of tire treads.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"It's not the load that breaks you down,
it's the way you carry it."
~ Lena Horne