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Protecting that casing is key since it's the foundation for any tire, retread or not. "If you don't have a solid casing to begin with, it doesn't matter how good the retread process is," says Tolman. "If that casing fails, the tire fails."

Maintaining proper inflation pressure also helps a tire retain its proper shape. "It's important for the tire to operate at its right shape," says Dutcher. "The tire has to control and stop/start the vehicle, as well as give a good ride. It can't do that if the tire doesn't have the right shape."

Repair injuries
When injury occurs to a tire, make sure you manage it properly. "If you get a cut in the tire and leave it alone, it will get worse," says Dutcher. "Manage those injuries by having a concise and thorough inspection program. Operators should look at tires multiple times a day. If they see an injury, report it to determine if it needs immediate attention."

Depending on the severity, a tire can still be retread even if damaged. "You can retread a tire that has been punctured," says Chris Hoffman, product manager, global tire products, Bandag. "There are procedures we follow and rules about what punctures can and can't be retread."

Bandag puts all casings through a 14-point visual inspection, as well as an electronic inspection that includes high voltage and shearography, where the casing is put under a vacuum and inspected to measure surface anomalies and expanding pockets of air that may make it a poor candidate for retreading. "We're able to look at the casing from bead to bead and see what may have been missed visually," says Hoffman. "That allows us to make sure that casing will last for [life of] the retread."