Inside Tyre Testing Labs: How Tyres Are Tested

One of the hallmarks of a premium tyre brand, besides the use of high-end raw materials and manufacturing techniques, is access to the top testing facilities. Many of the brand names that you hear on the premium market, from Continental to Michelin, and Bridgestone to Pirelli, are renowned for putting every new tyre model through its paces to ensure an even balance of performance and safety.

But what exactly happens during the process of tyre testing, and what are manufacturers looking for?

What Does Tyre Testing Involve?

When we talk about tyre testing, you are probably picturing a test track and a combination of dummy drivers and actual drivers. And you’re partly right!

Real world testing forms an important part of the tyre testing process, taking tyres into various controlled climates and navigating different terrains to see how the fitments cope and adapt to different specific needs.

But it’s not all road testing for new tyres.

The tyre laboratory also plays a part in the testing process, placing the tyres in specially engineered chambers and exposing them to heat and then cold to see how they respond. Lab testing allows manufacturers to push tyres to extreme limits beyond the challenges of real driving, simulating things like long-term wear, various impacts and the damage they cause, external forces and harsh weather conditions.

All in all, tyre testing is conducted via a blend of controlled processes and natural driving experiences. It not only identifies the limits to which a tyre can be pushed, but also ensures a tyre offers stability to everyday drivers across different conditions and terrains.

Why is Tyre Testing So Important?

With that in mind then, why is tyre testing so important? In short, it enables tyres to be put through their paces by the manufacturer, so that the manufacturer can offer assurance as to the limits the tyre will reach.

It creates the basis for details like speed and load rating and ensures that all tyres meet safety standards so that they are given international approval for road use.

This is also the way in which tyre manufacturers build a range and establish the way a specific tyre model will be positioned and marketed. It is only through testing that a manufacturer can recognise the top performance attributes of a tyre, where it performs well and where any limitations lie.

Where Do Tyre Brands Test Their Tyres?

Many of the top tyre brands have access to their own premium testing facilities – with budget and mid-range brands typically sat under the ownership of a larger brand that has access to premium testing sites.

This taps into an important fact about the tyre industry. Many of the cheaper brands on the market are actually owned by more expensive, premium brands – not only giving the cheaper brands access to premium testing, but also to leading tyre technology and design features.

While material and technology does play a role in market position and price, it’s crucial to acknowledge the undeniable role of brand name too – both in access to technology and testing facilities.

How to Choose Tyres That Perform Well Under Testing

In order for a tyre to be deemed safe to drive, it has to meet certain standards. This means that, to an extent, all tyres at least meet a minimum standard in terms of safety and performance.

The variation comes in how tyres adapt and respond to different environments – which is where individual factors like performance rating, load and speed rating, and climate adaptability come in.

Our advice to drivers is to first assess your vehicle needs and your local climate, before considering performance attributes and the benefits of different models. Our team can help advise on the tyres that have performed well under testing and that fit your needs and budget, or you can browse individual models yourself on our tyre brand pages.