The Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) has made a proposal to Tyre Retreaders Education Association (TREA) for mandating certain standards that will improve the quality of retreads.
Speaking to Tyre Trends about the move, a source privy to the developments explained, “We have sought TREA’s views on mandating the retread standards and we are currently awaiting their formal response on the subject. Once an agreement is reached with TREA, a formal proposal will be submitted to BIS for consideration. At present, the retread sector is largely unorganised with more than 10,000 retreaders operating. Once the applicable standards are mandated, all retreaders will be required to comply with the relevant BIS standards and mark their products with the BIS certification marks.”
“Considering the large number of retreaders operating in the market, enforcing retread standards will be a significant challenge for BIS,” he added.
As per an ICRA report, the Indian retreaded market was valued between INR 580 billion and INR 600 billion with a cumulative annual growth rate of 7–9 percent between FY23-26. As the market continues its projected trajectory, quality and efficacy become paramount not only to bolster recognition and usage but also to make a name at the global level.
The documents that were accessed by Tyre Trends signal a major restructuring of test procedures and physical property norms across key retreading standards.
At the centre of the exercise is remarks from Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), supplemented by inputs from a major tread maker, covering four foundational BIS retread standards, namely IS 15725, IS 15753, IS 15524 and IS 9168.
TREA members are yet to assess proposed updates to the physical-property criteria for uncured rubber including tread, belt, undertread, base and cushion gum compounds.
The technical work on retread-casing standard IS 15704 represents the most sensitive part of the proposal. Furthermore, ITTAC has partially aligned Indian requirements with ECE R109, the European regulatory benchmark.
Key alignments include widening allowable outer-diameter growth for tyres with section widths above 305 millimetre, raising permissible deviation from two percent to 3.5 percent for high-aspect-ratio radial tyres and four percent for bias-ply constructions.
ITTAC also endorsed the addition of a one percent deviation allowance for snow tyres, consistent with R109 clause 7.1.5.2.
The recommendations in the proposal also contains inputs from Michelin Tyres. The company had proposed a full R109-based clause on minimum material thickness above the breaker for diagonal-ply casings.
ITTAC did not accept the full wording, arguing that IS 15704 already covers requirements for both radial and bias tyres, but acknowledged that the minimum 0.80 millimetre non-repair spot thickness must be explicitly stated to prevent accidental exposure of the belt package during buffing operations, informed the source.
Alluding to how these changes will be incorporated, he noted, “As far as process is concerned, like in case of new tyres, retreader will apply to BIS for getting the license. After reviewing the application, a BIS auditor will visit the retreading facility and collect samples for testing at BIS-authorised laboratories. The laboratories will conduct tests as specified in the standard and submit their reports to BIS. If the sample successfully meets all requirements, a license is issued to the retreader, allowing them to mark their retreaded tyres with the applicable ISI mark.”
India’s retreading sector now stands at a defining crossroads. The push by ITTAC to formalise and mandate BIS standards marks a decisive shift from a largely fragmented landscape to one governed by measurable, certifiable quality benchmarks.
For more than 10,000 retreaders, the transition will not be easy as compliance, auditing and testing will demand new investments, capabilities and mindsets.
Yet, this transformation also presents an unprecedented opportunity. Standardisation could elevate Indian retreads from a cost-driven alternative to a globally credible, technically assured product category.
As TREA prepares its response and BIS gears up for the next drafting phase, the onus now lies on industry players to embrace this moment. If executed well, the reforms could not only improve safety and performance but also position India as a competitive force in the international retreading arena.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT