Tyre testing is an important part of Goodyear‘s development process. Goodyear tests truck tyres intensively at the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg and in Mireval in the south of France. Both locations have different test set-ups in which different conditions can be simulated. This allows tyres to be tested, for example, on road surfaces with varying grip and on slippery surfaces.
An Inside Look at Truck Tyre Testing with Goodyear
In addition, Goodyear‘s technicians conduct winter tyre tests in polar regions, such as at the Arctic Test Center in Finland. They also drive on highways in and outside Europe to test the extreme conditions that transport companies face on a daily basis.
Goodyear also uses independent test companies, such as the world-renowned test company TÜV SÜD Automotive GmbH. These companies often compare tyres from different manufacturers to show how well Goodyear tyres and those of the company’s other brands perform.
Field testing is also an important part of Goodyear‘s testing process. Trucks, buses and coaches often run with Goodyear tyres as well as their regular tyres so that performance can be compared in real-world conditions.
When Goodyear develops a new truck tyre, it must meet 50 different performance criteria before it is produced. Each criterion addresses an important performance characteristic, such as:
- Wet handling
- Braking on wet roads
- Dry road handling op
- Grip in corners
- Durability
- External noise
- Wet traction
- Stability at high speeds
- Rolling resistance
- Mileage
- Contact pressure
- High speed
All specific winter truck tyres are tested for specific performance factors, such as:
- Ice traction
- Braking performance on ice
- Grip on snow (acceleration test for truck tyres in the snow)
- Snow traction
- Snow braking performance
- Controllability in the snow
- Climbing hills
It is important to remember that improving one performance can lead to a deterioration of the other. This is evident, for example, from the relationship between rolling resistance and wear. The development of a tread compound that reduces rolling resistance or improves fuel economy usually results in reduced tyre life as they wear out faster. Goodyear has been able to make improvements for years without negatively impacting other areas of performance.
