Laboratory Testing to Reveal Defects

Under federal safety standard, car and auto part manufacturers must ensure that their tires are safe and free from any defect which may cause collisions and rollovers.

To prevent accidents caused by tire defects, safety experts and consumer groups are using laboratory testing and rating to reveal whether a tire is prone to premature tread separation or if it has a low resistance to heat.

• Temperature resistance testing
  
  In this test, engineers can determine the tires’ resistance to heat caused by hot weather, traveling at high speed, and driving for a long period of time.
  
  According to experts, low resistance to heat usually results to premature deterioration of the rubber, tread separation, and blowouts.
  
  Meanwhile, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) grades tire models as A which is the highest to C rating which is the lowest.


• Traction or grip rating
  
  This test will reveal the tire model’s ability to stop on wet or slippery pavement. A tire which can stop on wet roads in a shorter distance compared to other models is graded AA which is the highest rating.
  
  Traction or grip rating is graded as AA, A, B, C (from the highest to the lowest rating).


• Treadwear rating
  
  This rating, which generally falls between 60 and 540, determines if a tire’s tread will last long without being worn out.
  
  This test usually involves running a car in a 7,200-mile stretch of road (this is a controlled environment). After this, the engineers will compare the vehicle’s tire to other models. And since tire manufacturers are assigned to perform this test, the comparison is between their own products rather than other brands.

The Importance of Tire Testing

According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, tire testing will allow consumers to choose the best brands that will suit their needs. This rating will also pressure tire manufacturers to improve their products.

Meanwhile, the NHTSA has released the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) which is a tire grading system that includes the test results to nearly 2,500 tire models which are commonly used in passenger cars, SUVs, light pickup trucks, and minivans.

Also, the federal government has required tire manufacturers to grade their products and place the test result on the side of the tire models.

Caring for Tires

Even if a tire has an impressive rating, consumers are still advised to observe the following tire safety tips:

• Check the overall condition of tires at least once a month, particularly the sidewalls and treads. Look for tire rotation, wheel misalignment, and uneven tread.


• Use a pressure gauge to see if a tire has the right pressure. (The correct tire pressure is listed on the product’s label.)


• To test if a tire is already worn out, use the Lincoln’s head penny test by holding a coin and placing it between bar indicators. If the head can be seen, this means that the tire is worn out and should be replaced by a new one.