How to tell a retread?

[benl1981]

I have a set of tyres that I picked up that look a little like retreads, i.e. a seam around the sidewall near wear the Wear indicator locator is. The tread pattern looks the same though as when I look up the tyre on the internet. Are retreads usually a different tread pattern?

Also the wear indicator locator is just above the seam - i.e in a part that I would have thought would be the retreaded rubber but it has the company design as the locator.

Just dont really want to run Retreads on a skyline.

Thanks

[RiverSide]

9 times out of ten, a retread company will not find 4 of the same casings.......therefore each tyre has the same tread pattern but different brand names etc on the sidewalls. Whilst this is not ALWAYS accurate it is most of the time.

If they are retreads you will see markings on the sidewalla stating a speed limit for those tyres (normally 140kmph) I belive those markings are required by law.

From what you have said, it seems to me you have good tyres not retreads.

[benl1981]

I'm with you

No markings on the side so maybe these aren't retreads. Although you can take your tyres to a place and get them retread right? Or do they usually just give you some as swap overs?

I'll take it easy on them anyway as they are a fairly cheap brand.

[Ronin 09]

pop down to a local tyre shop and ask them what they think, to be sure

[predator]

They're usually different tread patterns, and generally you just give them your old ones and you get new ones..

and from experience with my daily driver and old cars during "I'm poor" school days, and mate's cars they were ok on cheap cars. Generally they start to crack where the new tread is put on after time, which can make them dangerous. Like you say its just the seam line is obvious around the whole tyre, although some tyres from new may have what looks similar I have found.

previous owner put them on my r31.. they held up through a track day, although not much power through them. I was a bit worried they wouldn't (heat build up can cause the tread to separate from the sidewall more than anything else) so had the spare all checked.

But like you're saying - good car + good tyres... change em if you have any doubt.

note: p.s. i can be a psycho

[JAS-25T]

how much did you pay for them?

thats also a good indicator.