The performance of any vehicle also depends on its tires which is why it becomes necessary for engineers to test tires before ascertaining that a vehicle is ready to hit the road. There are different types of tests that tires are passed through to determine their quality, weakness, performance rate, and overall score. Today's technology has allowed global tire manufacturers to reach this expert level of tire development. There are several types of different tire manufacturing companies but all of them have one goal which is to develop pioneering tires that can support the automotive industry.
Why Are Tires Tested Through Extreme Conditions?
It should be noted that tires, while they are being used in an automobile, are always in contact with harsh external factors like heat, ice, air resistance, spikes, and bumps on the roads. So, it is only natural to determine that any tire that has been developed is fit to tread on a challenging road without causing any problems.
Technological advances have made it easier to test and ensure the performance, safety, sustainability, and reliability of these world-class tires. Usually, inside a tire developing and testing lab, scientists duplicate extreme weather conditionsAdjusting driving practices to safely navigate in rain, snow, fog, and ice. that tires must face for proper testing.
The safety and comfort provided by any tire manufacturing company through its quality products can only be guaranteed by extreme condition testing. Individual mobility and industrialization demand better tires to be used in vehicles. But there are no valid assurances regarding tire performance except that it has gone through and passed an extensive testing phase.
During these tests, it becomes crystal clear whether any tire is developed perfectly or not which decides the next phase of its lifecycle. Tests that mimic extreme weather conditions are a milestone that every tire manufacturer must complete one way or the other.
For example, it is highly imperative that motorsports tires are continually tested and pushed to the limit in all sorts of conditions. It is for the safety of the driver whether or not they are professionals or novices.
Types Of Extreme Condition Tests:
As mentioned earlier, tires come into contact with harsh weather conditions throughout their lifetime. So, it becomes vital to check whether they can withstand any type of condition while providing the best performance, safety, and reliability or not.
Winter is considered one of the most difficult times to drive because there is a possibility that icy roads and weather conditions could hamper safety. This means testing tires for winter and their relevant conditions are necessary before they are made available for countries where people experience harsh winters. Inside a lab, the temperature is lowered as much as required to check the effect of the coldness on the outer surface of any tire.
Tires are also made to run on artificially created icy roads to check how much it skids or bounces off the surface. Steering, accelerating, and braking actions need to be working perfectly under these conditions for any tire to be considered “ready for anything”.
Just like lower temperatures can have an adverse effect on tires, high temperatures do not do them any favors as well. Adverse weather conditions include scorching temperatures during the summer phase. Many Middle Eastern countries experience temperatures that are high enough to melt glass during afternoons.
Despite the normal temperature, these countries are known for their automobile industry and their citizen’s love for owning/driving top-tier cars. Tires are required to pass tests relating to hot conditions to ensure that they do not end up bursting or melting in the middle of the road and causing problems for car owners. Experts say that 195 degrees Fahrenheit is the highest temperature that a tire can handle without degrading. But beyond that level, it is difficult for tires to maintain shape and performance.
External force and air pressure also cause tires to react differently under different conditions. Tires are not only affected by the temperature around them but also some unseen factors that could mess up with their overall performance. For this reason, tire manufacturers, especially those who have a global presence, ensure force and moments tests for their tires to check how tires react and deliver performance under different conditions.
It is done inside a lab where people exert different levels of pressure at various angles on the surface of the tires repeatedly to see whether it can withstand it all. These tests can go as extreme as the lab personnel want them to be. The data thus produced gives us a clear picture of that particular tire’s weaknesses and strengths. The data is maintained properly to use later on with another set of tires. These kinds of tests not only reveal how tires would perform under adverse pressure circumstances but also help in modelling programs where tires are fine-tuned before fitting them into a specific type of vehicle.
Knowing that tires are healthy and performing well enough to be put into vehicles is the priority for all tire manufacturers and testing through extreme conditions helps to do that.
About Giti Tire
Giti Tire is aligning its advanced technologies with rapidly changing industry trends to adapt efficiently to unique local demands on a timely basis. Owing to its technological hubs conveniently situated in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, and Indonesia, Giti is able to supply an array of tire products to motorsports teams, vehicle manufacturers, tire dealers and more. In complement to its extensive network and motorsports involvement, Giti Tire is also committed to environmentally friendly manufacturing and community services.
