Tire Traction - Matching Product & Test Technologies 890102

As advancements are made in product technology, there is a need to keep pace with the ability to accurately and efficiently evaluate its performance. Improvements in tire traction should be evaluated in a manner that relates to how the product shall be used in the market place. Furthermore, as incremental improvements necessarily and inevitably become smaller, the need for increased accuracy in testing is critical.

In this paper the authors examine the various types of traction testing: Driving, braking, cornering - together with the various media: Wet and dry pavement, ice, snow & mud. These various combinations are studied in the context of foreseen applications by the motorist. Numerous test conditions are studied and a thorough assessment of test variability is undertaken. Parameters under study include vehicle speed, water film thickness, ambient temperature, snow E mud depths, and various vehicle influences. Advanced methods of controlling these various test parameters are displayed and discussed. Furthermore, correlations among these various types of traction tests are viewed. Opportunities of predicting traction performance are addressed and evaluated.

The importance of this test technology in the valid and accurate evaluation of traction performance of tires is well understood and documented. Such evaluations are critical for the newest designs in high performance and all seasons tires. This information is also vital for the development of anti-lock braking systems, 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steer systems on latest technology vehicles.