Andrew French of Michelin highlighted the sharp decline in UK retread truck and bus tyres, from 800,000 pre-pandemic to an estimated 500,000 in 2025, at the Tyre Industry Conference 2025. He blamed poor regulation, lack of government understanding, and the influx of cheap single-use tyres. French argued for swift cross-industry moves to support a rejuvenation of retreading; an industry that supports 5,500 UK jobs and aligns with growing remanufacturing trends seen in other industries. He called for a shift in perception, suggesting “remanufactured tyres” better reflect sustainability goals. With improved technology, retreading could extend tyre life significantly. French urged industry and government support to rejuvenate the sector and meet a 2035 target of one in three TBR tyres retreaded.
The full videos of French’s presentation and the following Q&A, produced by the NTDA, are available below and on the association’s YouTube channel.
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