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SOUTH AFRICA
Safari Tyres Leads the Way for Passenger Retreading in South Africa
Safari Tyres’ products are popular with the off road enthusiasts in South Africa
Port Elizabeth based Safari Tyres continues to fly the flag for passenger retreading in South Africa, despite
“However, we are currently under strain as the South African tyre market is getting pulled this way and that. Good
quality retreadable casings in the sizes we are after coming out of the local tyre market are almost non-existent. The REDISA empowered tyre casing collectors that have first bite at the tyre casings, are taking all the good used tyres out of the system for resale. The tyres that have a good covering of rubber are then sold mostly to the Zimbabweans, or informal tyre dealers, either for regrooving (to be sold on the side of the road) or to be taken back to Zimbabwe to be sold there. What is left, mostly scrap, is then dropped off at the REDISA depots around the country.
REDISA have given Safari permission to sort casings out twice a week at their depots, but according to du Preez what can be salvaged is barely worth the effort.
“At present we have to continue to import tyre casings, and we are issued a quota in this regard,” says du Preez. “Imported casings are obviously expensive, and ideally we would like a constant local source of quality casings. Hopefully we can weather this storm and keep our staff employed and not become another statistic.”
Despite the difficult market conditions, Safari Tyres is well established with a strong loyal support in the local market, especially in the on/off road sector, where 4x4 enthusiasts and local game farms are active users of the company’s retreads. The company has its own vehicle – the Safari Pitbull, which performs with local 4x4 clubs and is also the sponsor of the back-up vehicle for extrememarathons.com.
Safari Tyres keeps up to date with modern tyre designs for the more sporting driver
continuingly difficult market conditions. The company, which currently manufactures around 800 bead-to-bead remoulds for passenger cars, 4x4 vehicles and pick-up trucks every week at its Econotreads sister company, has been active in the market since 1973, but now says it is the only passenger tyre retreader in South Africa still making any units worth talking about. The company sells its tyres direct to the end user through its three tyre retail stores.
“We made a decision about fifteen years ago to produce bead to bead remoulded tyres as opposed to normal top cap hot retreads which has helped to keep our doors open,” says Paul du Preez of Safari Tyres.
The press line at Safari Tyres