How are sports tires tested?

Before hitting the track, racing tires undergo the most rigorous testing in laboratories. There is a whole list of requirements that the tires must meet. In today's article, we will tell you about the parameters by which tires are tested and, most importantly, how exactly this is done. 

HIGH-SPEED TESTING
High-performance tires often work at increased speeds for a long period, so the tire testing machine is capable of working at high speeds for a very long time, in order to understand the boundary at which the tire can receive critical damage. This makes the machine ideal for evaluating the operational characteristics and durability of tires in fully dynamic conditions.

TEMPERATURE TESTING
Temperature has a significant impact on the operational characteristics of any tire. A complete understanding of the thermal properties of tires at various speeds, angles of inclination, and inflation pressure is crucial in tire design and the pursuit of maximizing their efficiency in racing. Using a variety of sensors to measure parameters such as the outer surface, inner carcass, and temperature, the testing laboratory can record a complete thermal map of the tire's changes during any test. Thus, the tire testing laboratory obtains the thermal response of rubber compounds and their effect on the tire's grip on the road.

CIRCLE MODELING
An important testing stage is circle modeling, in which actual vehicle test data is imported into the testing machine, which can subject the tire to testing with high repeatability while performing the same maneuvers. It is also possible to quickly evaluate how different camber settings (static or dynamic) affect the level of tire grip and wear characteristics during the entire stay on the racing track. Additionally, complex driving maneuvers such as two-lane changes are simulated to evaluate the transitional characteristics of tires of various constructions or sizes.

All of the above is a set of closed tests within one laboratory. After that, the tire goes to a closed circuit, where it is tested by experienced pilots. But even this is not all. The final stage of testing in full can be considered the races themselves. It is there that the world's best pilots subject the tires to the highest loads, which are difficult to simulate. That's why companies participating in competitions have unique knowledge.