American manufacturing has long played a vital role in our nation’s economic strength and innovation. This is especially evident in the commercial trucking industry — a sector that plays a critical role in keeping America moving. 

Today, the industry faces a pivotal moment. Global supply chain shifts, the rise of low-cost imported tires, and increasing sustainability considerations are presenting significant challenges across the sector. 

The need to strengthen domestic supply chains, support American jobs, and move toward a more sustainable future is more important than ever.

Against this backdrop, a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives emerges as a timely and vital piece of legislation: H.R. 3401, the Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025.

Goodyear is proud to publicly support this bipartisan bill, which aims to reinforce the U.S. commercial truck tire industry, fortify American manufacturing leadership, and promote sustainable practices for future generations. 

Goodyear views retreading as a critical solution for the challenges facing our industry. This proposed legislation can help ensure that American fleets, workers, and communities continue to thrive.

The Power of Retreading: Extending Tire Life, Lowering Costs

At its core, retreading is about doing more with less: maximizing the life of each tire, reducing costs for fleets, and minimizing waste. The process involves removing worn tread from a tire casing and replacing it with new tread, allowing commercial truck tires to be reused multiple times.

Retreaded tires offer fleets significant cost savings (up to $3 billion annually) — while delivering the performance standards required by today’s demanding freight operations. 

With advancements in retread technology, modern retreads can match the reliability and efficiency of new tires across long-haul, regional, and urban applications. Research has shown that retreading a premium tire two times can keep that tire on the road up to 500% longer than low-cost single-use tires available on the market today that are not suitable for retreading. 

This is a key reason why nearly 90% of U.S. trucking fleets with 100 or more trucks use retreads as part of their tire program, according to industry research.

But the benefits of retreading go far beyond individual fleets’ bottom lines. 

Fueling American Manufacturing Jobs and Strengthening the Supply Chain

The United States had more than 3,000 retread manufacturing facilities operating in 1982, according to the 2024 Addendum to the 2018 The State of Retread Tires in the United States & Canada.

Today, that number has plummeted to roughly 500, a stark decline largely driven by the explosive growth of ultra-low-cost imported tires. 

Nevertheless, the retreading industry currently supports more than 268,000 U.S. jobs, according to the research, spanning skilled labor, engineering, logistics, and small business ownership. These jobs are often rooted in local communities, supporting many businesses across the country.

Retreading is inherently local. When a tire is retreaded, the process happens close to where the tire is used, keeping dollars and jobs in the community and reducing reliance on volatile global supply chains.

In contrast, non-retreadable low-cost imported tires may contribute less to the domestic economy and can increase exposure to the uncertainties of international markets for American fleets and workers. 

H.R. 3401, the Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025, works to address these challenges.

The bill proposes a 30% federal tax credit for every retreaded commercial truck tire a fleet purchases, up to $30 per tire. This incentive is designed to make retreads even more cost-competitive, encourage widespread adoption, and sustain the domestic manufacturing jobs that depend on a healthy retread sector.

Beyond the numbers, this legislation aligns with broader national efforts to reinvigorate American industry and infrastructure. 

The trucking industry is the heartbeat of our supply chain, delivering goods to every corner of the country, often under tight deadlines and demanding conditions. A robust, resilient domestic tire manufacturing and retreading sector is essential for keeping our supply chain strong, flexible, and secure.

By supporting the Act, Goodyear is not only advocating for our company and our customers, but for the entire American manufacturing ecosystem.

Innovation and Quality: Modern Retreads Meet the Demands of Today’s Fleets

Contrary to the common misconception that retreads are inferior or less reliable than new tires, a high-quality retread can deliver similar or sometimes better mileage and fuel efficiency as a new tire in many fleet applications. 

In fact, retreaders can offer the same low–rolling resistance tread designs featured on new tires. Industry-wide, there are more than 40 different retread options that are EPA SmartWay approved.

Furthermore, the technology and quality controls in today’s retread industry have made most concerns about retreaded tires’ reliability obsolete. 

Modern retread plants use a robust and sophisticated pre- and final inspection process to carefully evaluate casing integrity and ensure each retreaded tire meets rigorous safety and performance standards. The process is highly regulated, with mandatory compliance to Department of Transportation requirements and industry best practices.

Sustainability and the Circular Economic Value of Tire Retreading

At a time when sustainability is moving from a “nice to have” to a business imperative, retreading is a practical, proven way that can help fleets reduce their environmental footprint without compromising performance or impacting operational efficiency.

Not only can retreading extend the tire life cycle, but it can also help reduce the demand for new raw materials, decrease material waste and carbon footprint, and enable supply chain efficiencies. 

By incorporating retreading into their tire management strategies, fleets can take practical steps toward supporting their sustainability goals.

The Role of Policy: Why the Act Matters Now

The H.R. 3401 - Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025 is more than just a tax credit. It represents a strategic investment in America’s industrial future. By incentivizing fleets to adopt retreaded tires, the act aims to:

• Sustain and grow American jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and engineering fields.

• Strengthen domestic supply chain resiliency. 

• Drive adoption of practices that can conserve resources and reduce material waste.

• Help fleets reduce expenses and improve uptime while advancing their sustainability objectives.

H.R. 3401 enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress, as well as strong backing from industry, labor, and community organizations. By passing this legislation, policymakers can deliver tangible benefits for fleets, workers, and the environment while reaffirming America’s leadership in industrial innovation.

Goodyear: Leading by Example

Goodyear continues to invest in a comprehensive retread product lineup, ensuring fleets of every size and segment have access to high-quality, innovative solutions tailored to their needs.

Our nationwide network of more than 65 retread plants, with roughly half being company-owned, is a testament to our commitment to supporting American fleets with both technology and service, offering solutions that help fleets save money and reduce downtime.

As one of the world’s oldest and largest tire manufacturers, Goodyear is committed to leading the industry forward. Our comprehensive tire management program integrates retreading as a core strategy to help fleets stay competitive, efficient, and sustainable.

A Call to Action

The challenges facing American trucking and manufacturing are real, but so are the opportunities. Retreading offers a unique chance to help drive down costs, create jobs, and protect the environment with a single, proven solution.

The H.R.3401 - Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025 represents a smart, strategic investment in America’s future. A robust domestic retread industry is essential for supply chain security and America’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing.

I urge policymakers, fleet operators, industry partners, and all stakeholders to join Goodyear in supporting this vital legislation by reaching out to your representatives, sharing your story, and advocating for a stronger, more sustainable domestic supply chain.

Together, we can secure America’s place as a global leader in manufacturing and sustainability – one retread at a time.

About the Author:Joe Burke is Vice President, North America Commercial & Global Aviation at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He has over two decades of experience in tire manufacturing, fleet operations, and supply chain management. This article was authored and edited according to Heavy Duty Trucking’s editorial standards and style to provide useful information to our readers. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of HDT.