SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             _______________________

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                             _______________________


                  Date of Report
                  (Date of earliest
                  event reported):February 20, 1998


                              Bandag, Incorporated                     
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Iowa                        001-07007                 42-0802143    
   (State or other              (Commission File              (IRS Employer  
   jurisdiction of                   Number)              Identification No.)
   incorporation)


                    2905 North Highway 61, Muscatine, Iowa  52761     
           (Address of principal executive offices including zip code)


                                 (319) 262-1400          
                         (Registrant's telephone number)

   

               Item 5.  Other Events.

               (a)  Registrant is filing (i) unaudited consolidated condensed
                    balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 1997 
                    and 1996, respectively, (ii) unaudited consolidated 
                    statements of earnings for the three and twelve month 
                    periods ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, 
                    and (iii) unaudited consolidated condensed statements of
                    cash flows for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997
                    and 1996, respectively.  The financial statements filed as 
                    an exhibit to this report are unaudited, contain no notes
                    and are subject to such changes as may be incorporated
                    into the audited financial statements of Registrant to
                    be filed as part of Registrant's Annual Report on
                    Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.

               Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
   and Exhibits.

               (a)  None.

               (b)  None.

               (c)  See Exhibit Index on page 3.

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
   1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be
   signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                             Bandag, Incorporated



                                             By: /s/ Warren W. Heidbreder
                                                  Warren W. Heidbreder, Vice
                                                  President, Chief Financial
                                                  Officer

   

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

   Exhibit
   Number                          Exhibit Description

   99.1        Consolidated condensed balance sheet (unaudited) for the years
               ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively; consolidated
               condensed statements of earnings (unaudited) for the three and
               twelve month periods ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, 
               respectively; and consolidated condensed statements of cash
               flows (unaudited) for the twelve month periods ended 
               December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.