Grantham, Lincolnshire-based 70-year-old British company Vaculug is launching of the World’s first ‘A’ rated retread tyre, according to EU tyre labelling laws.
Retreading is a method used to lengthen the life of a tyre. It consists of replacing the tread of a used tyre, while keeping the same carcass.
Even though retreads are not required to have ratings, Vaculug decided to have their new product manufactured and tested to the same standards as the best new tyres and beat them on performance.
Retreads are the most sustainable form of tyres where Vaculug regenerates an old tyre destined for scrap into a product that can clearly outperform new tyres. The company is Europe’s largest independent retreader, which manufactures and handles tyre management for some of the top transportation fleets in Europe, including Aldi supermarkets and Amazon.
By integrating a high percentage of silica in the tread, Vaculug has succeeded in pushing the limits of rolling resistance to save on fuel, without compromising the tyres’ longevity. Choosing the “A” rated KT01 tyre over an “F” rated tyre can significantly reduce a fleet’s carbon emissions by 1,200 tonnes and lower fuel costs by £475,000 per annum.
In addition to this new innovation, Vaculug have appointed Kaya Axelsson to develop their sustainability strategy and to formulate their path to net zero emissions.
Axelson is the Net Zero Policy Engagement Fellow at Oxford University, where she works to support the practical application of net zero research insights. Axelsson leads a team of researchers to aggregate and clearly communicate resources for defining and achieving this goal.
She has also helped to develop the University of Oxford’s own sustainability strategy, including its pathway to net zero. Vaculug is the first retreader in Europe to publicly affirm its commitment to net zero and have a policy in place in the next quarter with a milestone to achieve this before 2030.
Harjeev Kandhari, Executive Chairman of Vaculug (pictured above with local MP Gareth Davies touring the Vaculug factory) comments: “We are excited say that the World’s first and only ‘A’ rated retreaded tyre has been developed by a British company here in the UK. Thistyre was fully developed by our internal research and development team based in Grantham, Lincolnshire. We set a goal of developing a retread that was as good as the best fuel-efficient new tyres on the market and we’re proud to say that we have beaten this milestone.’
Vaculug are also working on developing a new retread specifically for the electric truck. Kandhari explains: “Electric vehicle tyres carry a heavier load and have to withstand instant torque, leading to higher tyre wear, so we need to create a stronger sidewall and use more robust rubber compounds. Greater mass and increased inertia means longer braking distance, so we place a special emphasis on optimal grip.
“We are working on developing a new tyre in Grantham with our internal research and development team to ensure that our treads work on this basis. We have already worked on this with our rubber supplier partners to have these treads tested in live environments in California and hope to release tyre in the UK in Q3 of this year.”
The company hope that their pioneering work will go some way to revolutionising the industry and pave the way for a greener and more efficient practices in future.
