Rubber retreads we try from time to time (6)
I believe the answer is:
eraser
'rubber' is the definition.
(rubber can mean an eraser)
'retreads we try from time to time' is the wordplay.
'from time to time' means one should take alternating letters (letters removed on a regular basis).
'retreads'+'we'+'try'='retreadswetry'
The alternate letters of 'retreadswetry' are 'ERASER'.
(Other definitions for eraser that I've seen before include "Rubber for removing marks" , "Writing remover" , "Implement for rubbing out" , "device for deleting things" , "It could remove" .)