Border Tire has inaugurated its new retread facility in Redlands, California. The site is now the largest Michelin Retread Technology plant in North America. Jim Russell, Executive Vice President of Border Tire, recently shared key insights about the facility ahead of its official grand opening. The operation is exceptional for both the scale of production and the intentional design elements integrated throughout the plant.
Largest Michelin Retread Technology Plant in North America
The Redlands facility represents a significant development for Border Tire, a family-owned company established in the Southwest for its service-oriented approach to fleet tyre management. With locations in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, Border Tire has historically emphasised that it is “a service company that happens to sell tyres”. The Redlands plant embodies this philosophy.
The facility spans approximately 120,000 square feet. The building, originally a 65-year-old structure used for RV and luxury vehicle storage, provided a robust foundation for conversion into an advanced retread manufacturing centre.
Internally, the plant currently operates five curing chambers with capacity for a sixth, four builders that can expand to five, two shearography machines, multiple buffers, and seven repair stations. Production currently stands at approximately 500 retreads per day on one and a half shifts, with the immediate capability to reach 750 per day. The long-term objective is to increase production to 1,200 retreads per day, positioning the facility among the highest-output retread operations in North America.
Russell noted that redundancy was integral to the plant’s layout. Every major piece of equipment possesses a backup, excluding the buffing dust-collection system. As this component is sourced from a local manufacturer, potential downtime can be addressed rapidly. “Redundancy isn’t optional for us; it’s essential,” Russell stated. “Our customers expect reliability, and this plant is engineered to meet that expectation every day.”
The facility is also designed to accommodate automation and robotics, ensuring the plant can adapt as retreading technology evolves. The infrastructure is prepared for automation, data-driven maintenance, and advanced fleet solutions. As retreading technology evolves, the plant is built to grow with it.
Beyond retreading, the Redlands site includes warehousing and logistics operations, a mounted-wheel programme, powder coating, and wheel refinishing. A new commercial service centre is scheduled to open in 2026. Approximately 70 personnel work at the facility, with 35 assigned directly to retread production. The plant serves all Border Tire stores across its four-state footprint.
Management has also focused on workplace culture, notably by enhancing the employee break room. Royal Jones, President and CEO, remarked that the Redlands facility “marks a major milestone for Border Tire”, strengthening the company’s presence across the Southwest while expanding opportunities for employees and the communities they serve.
The facility also utilises data and tyre-monitoring technology. Tools such as TreadEye, which provide precise tread-depth readings and wear analytics, are central to supporting fleet maintenance programmes. “Retreading is about extending the life of an asset,” Russell explained. “With Michelin’s technology and our team’s expertise, we help customers get more miles, more performance, and more savings from every casing.”
The Redlands plant reinforces Border Tire’s position in sustainable fleet solutions. Through strategic design, redundancy, and technology, the company aims to meet growing demand while preparing for future innovations in the retreading sector, a laudable aim as a leader in sustainable, high-performance fleet solutions.
Source: Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB)
