Georgia bill calls for ban on retreads

A bill in the Georgia House of Representatives that seeks to ban the use of retreads on state vehicles that respond to public safety emergencies has elicited a strong response from the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB).

In a recent letter to state representatives, TRIB Managing Director Harvey Brodsky said, "On behalf of the entire retread industry and especially our many retreader members in Georgia, we believe there is no basis" for the ban, "since the safety of retreaded tires on all types of vehicles -- including fire engines and other emergency vehicles -- has been proven over billions of miles for many years."

Specifically, House Bill 981 states, "Retreaded tires shall not be used on official state vehicles which may be used to respond to public safety emergencies."

Brodsky went on to write that retreaded tires "are safely used by school buses (including in Georgia), fire engines, commercial and military airlines, companies such as FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, race cars, taxis and many other types of vehicles worldwide.

"There is even a Federal Executive Order (13149) mandating the use of retreaded tires on certain federal fleet vehicles."

A ban on retreads "will cost Georgia taxpayers unnecessary extra money, while at the same time (will) not help the environment."

If approved, H.B. 981 will go into effect July 1, 2010.

Related Topics: Legislative issues, Retreading, Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau

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