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Precured (cold) vs mould-cure
What it is
The two retreading processes. Precured or cold retreading bonds a tread strip already vulcanised with its pattern onto the buffed casing, then cures the bond at lower temperature. Mould-cure or hot retreading applies uncured rubber and forms the pattern in a mould at high heat
Cold retreading dominates Indian commercial vehicle work; plant investment runs roughly Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.5 cr depending on capacity and automation
Impact on industries
- Cold curing subjects the casing to lower heat, so casing life is preserved and the tyre can usually be retreaded more than once
- Consistent factory-made tread depth and pattern give predictable mileage, and shorter cycle times raise throughput per unit of capacity
- Lower capital intensity suits small operators, but pattern choice is limited to what tread suppliers offer, so customisation is not possible
- Mould-cure retains advantages in smaller tyres and where sidewall appearance matters, so process choice follows tyre type rather than being universally settled