Bridgestone Leads Market in SmartWay Verified Retread Offerings
Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, a business of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, recently submitted four additional Bandag retread products to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for SmartWay verification. Upon approval, Bridgestone will offer more SmartWay verified retreads than any other retread manufacturer for a total of seven products.
“At Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, we are responding to evolving market needs with tire solutions that not only are smart for business, but are also smart for the earth,” said Bert Jones, manager, product marketing, TBR, retread and OTR, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions. “Having seven retread product offerings that surpass SmartWay requirements is just one more way we are meeting customer needs and truly sets us apart in the industry.”
Currently, three Bandag retread products, B710 FuelTech, B197 FuelTech, and B135 FuelTech are on the list of low rolling resistance retreads.
The four new Bandag options submitted for review are FCR Trailer, FuelTech Trailer, FuelTech Drive and B835 FuelTech. The Bandag FCR Trailer retread is a specially compounded, high mileage, shallow tread tire that combines fuel efficiency with extended tread wear. The B835 FuelTech wide base drive retread features an advanced fuel-efficient compound to produce long tread life and exceptional fuel economy for fleets using wide base tires on tandem axles in over-the-highway service. FuelTech Trailer and FuelTech Drive retread products utilize a special compound to help deliver fuel efficiency while generous depth increases tread wear and traction.
The EPA SmartWay Technology program verifies the performance of vehicles, technologies and equipment that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants from freight transport, according to its website. Using fuel economy testing, demonstration projects, etc., the program establishes credible performance criteria and reviews test data to ensure that vehicles, equipment and technologies will help fleets improve their efficiency and reduce emissions.
