First let's define "Green."

These days it seems like every industry is touting how "green" their products are. By "green" they are trying to sell you on the idea that you should buy from them because they are "environmentally friendly."

The other "green" applies to money, which in the U.S. is a popularly applied term since bills of every denomination in the U.S. are printed on green paper. Those from other countries need to know this so they will understand why we are using the other "green."

I'm Harvey Brodsky and I'm the Managing Director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau. I first joined the retread industry back in the early seventies and have been driving on retreaded tires on my personal car for more than 30 years. It's important to know that I really do walk the talk when I speak or write about retreads. I believe in retreading with a passion and love what I do because I know how important it is to spread the word about the environmental and economic benefits retreads offer to motorists worldwide.

Now let's look at how "green" a retreaded truck tire really is.

The average size new truck tire (an 11R22.5 for example) weighs approximately 117 Pounds (53.1 Kilograms). The new tire contains natural and synthetic rubber, carbon black, iron (as steel cord), zinc stearate, antioxidants and antiozonants, sulfur and a small amount of other ingredients. That's 117 pounds or 53.1 kilograms of STUFF.

Please keep in mind that every major new truck tire manufacturer designs its tires for multiple lives. It's silly and wasteful to discard the tire after the first tread life is over, since the tire can easily deliver one or more lives after being retreaded.