Tire Rolling Resistance Evaluations

Fuel prices and greater awareness about the role tires have in improving fuel economy has created renewed interest in tire rolling resistance evaluations. A tire’s rolling resistance impacts on fuel economy through a combination of heat loss, aerodynamic drag and the friction between tires and road surfaces. Rolling resistance testing can be performed on the following tire types:
  • Bicycle
  • Passenger and light truck
  • Medium-duty truck
  • Super single truck
  • Dual assemblies
  • OTR
  • Tow motor
  • Motorcycle

Industry Standards for Tire Rolling Resistance Testing

  • SAE J1269
  • SAE J2452
  • ISO 28580
  • ISO 18164

Rolling Resistance at Various Temperatures

Current conventional rolling resistance testing methods only focus on tire performance at an ambient temperature of 24°C or 25°C, but real-world applications span a much broader range of operation. Our machine capabilities allow us to test tires at various ambient temperatures covering a range from -40°C (-40°F) to 40°C (104°F). These evaluations are increasingly important for vehicle OEMs and tire manufacturers looking to optimize their tires for fuel efficiency and range (EVs) at multiple operating temperatures. Smithers conducted a study to illustrate the differences in rolling resistance performance at low temperatures driving the need for deeper understanding and research of the subject. 

Certification and Accreditation

Smithers’ tire testing laboratories in Ravenna, Ohio and Suzhou, China are correlated for the measurement of tire rolling resistance with the Global Network of Reference Laboratories, as defined in (EC) No 1222/2009. This alignment allows clients to report rolling resistance data for the purposes of EU tire labeling requirements - UNECE Regulation No. 117 (R117).
 
All Smithers laboratories are ISO 17025 accredited. 

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Whitepaper - Effect of Temperature on Rolling Resistance
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