The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) is preparing for another year of federal advocacy as the November elections could reshape congressional support for legislation aimed at increasing the use of retreaded tires.

Speaking at TRIB's annual membership meeting Nov. 2 in Las Vegas, Managing Director David Stevens said the organization and the Tire Industry Association (TIA) remain committed to advancing two federal retread bills, although the number of congressional supporters has not increased since MTD's August report.

The legislation has 10 supporters in the House and three in the Senate, according to Stevens. With 12 of those lawmakers facing reelection today, the organizations may need to reassess their approach heading into 2027.

"What happens after that, we'll have to do a reset and see where we go from there based upon what happens tomorrow," Stevens told members.

The uncertainty comes as TRIB considers expanding its educational and advocacy efforts in response to member feedback, which identified those areas as priorities for the organization.

Legislative efforts continue

TRIB and TIA have spent much of 2026 building support for H.R. 3401, the Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025, and its Senate companion, S. 2790, the Resilient Tire Supply and Jobs Act.

The legislation would establish a tax credit equal to the lesser of 30% of the purchase price or $30 per qualifying retreaded tire and require federal agencies to purchase retreads under certain circumstances when suitable products are available.

As MTD reported in August, both bills remained at the introduced stage, prompting TIA and TRIB to explore opportunities to attach the proposals to larger legislative packages. Potential vehicles included year-end tax legislation, defense authorization and surface transportation reauthorization.

The organizations also participated in a July congressional fly-in, bringing representatives from commercial tire dealerships and retreading operations to Washington, D.C., to discuss the industry's contributions to domestic manufacturing, supply chain security and fleet operating costs.

Stevens said the legislation remains a priority for TIA and the government affairs teams of major tire manufacturers, which are also supporting the effort.

"We'll have more efforts on that in 2027," he said.

Members identify education and advocacy as priorities

Beyond its legislative work, TRIB is evaluating opportunities to expand services based on results from its first membership satisfaction survey since 2019.

When asked what additional resources the organization could provide, respondents most frequently requested more conference presentations and educational sessions. Expanded lobbying and legislative efforts ranked second, followed by technical materials, industry best practices, webinars and career resources.

Stevens said the organization also regularly helps members connect with suppliers, industry contacts and resources to address business challenges, including regulatory and customs issues.

TRIB's Net Promoter Score, which measures members' willingness to recommend the organization to others, increased from 53 in 2019 to 95 in 2026. Additionally, 97% of respondents said they were likely to renew their membership, while 3% remained undecided.

Approximately 65% of responding members have belonged to TRIB for more than five years.

Expanding retreading's reach

TRIB also continued efforts to promote the economic and environmental benefits of retreading to fleets, policymakers and the broader tire industry in 2026. Stevens highlighted the organization's participation in industry events, including The Tire Cologne, Latin Tire Expo and Truck World Canada, where TRIB worked to address misconceptions about retreaded tires and promote their use.

The organization also partnered with CalRecycle this year on a webinar examining how retreading extends tire life and reduces total cost of ownership.

Stevens said retreading is frequently overlooked in discussions about tire sustainability and the circular economy, which often focus on the use of sustainable manufacturing materials and end-of-life tire recycling without accounting for opportunities to reuse existing tire casings.

TRIB also completed its fourth annual State of the Retread Industry Survey, which tracks market conditions, business challenges and expectations among retreaders.

Its member-focused outreach program has included more than 30 visits to member businesses over the past three years, producing profiles that highlight individual retreading operations and their contributions to the industry.

Scholarship, board elections

TRIB is also considering expanding its Marvin Bozarth Memorial Scholarship program further, following increased financial contributions and strong interest from applicants. The program, established in 2025 to support students pursuing careers in the tire, automotive and transportation industries, received more than 100 applications during its 2026 scholarship cycle.

Two $500 scholarships were awarded this year to Barret Schmidt of Round Mountain, Texas, who attends the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, and David Johnson of Franktown, Colo., who attends WyoTech.

Stevens said the organization is evaluating whether to increase the number of scholarships awarded or the amounts recipients receive.

"We've gotten some pretty good financial support from a number of parties," Stevens said. "So it's now, ‘how do we take it to the next phase of this scholarship?’"

TRIB members also approved a slate of nominees to the organization's board of directors.

The nominees included Trey Burleson of Central Marketing, Martin Collet of RTS Canada, Alan Rider of Sparton Enterprises and Jason Smith and Tim Puck of Liberty Tire Recycling. The slate was approved without opposition during the meeting.