TÜV SÜD unveils indoor tire abrasion test system

Munich, Germany – TUV SUD has introduced a new ‘tread wear tester’ that allows for year-round abrasion testing under controlled indoor conditions, the test & certification body announced 14 May.

The system simulates tire wear in a repeatable and precise way, reducing reliance on road tests and enabling earlier data collection for OEMs and tire manufacturers.

Presented during a recent open lab day event in Garching near Munich, the system is designed by ZF Test Systems, according to TUV SUD.

The rig features a “unique” 3-metre drum and supports speeds of up to 140 km/h on artificial road surfaces and up to 200 km/h on standard surfaces.

It can simulate a variety of driving conditions, including cornering, with loads of up to 25 kN and slip angles of +/-10 degrees.

The unique drum allows abrasion tests to be carried out in accordance with UN ECE R117 Annex 10 protocols * as well as individually adapted follow-up profiles. Different drum coatings can also be used to simulate different road surfaces.

According to TUV, the new rig forms part of its “Road2Rig” strategy to shift tire testing from the road to the lab, and thereby improving efficiency, sustainability and planning reliability.

The system was installed at the end of 2024 following a complex delivery process involving a 27-tonne lift using a heavy-duty crane.

“With the new test stand, we are able to simulate tire abrasion in a realistic and repeatable way without the need for expensive test fleets or prototype vehicles,“ said Klaus Baltruschat, tire expert at TUV SUD.

The lab-based system will also help support the industry measure tire and road wear particles (TRWP), which are set to face new EU regulatory limits under Euro 7.

*ECE R117 defines the measurement of fuel efficiency, wet grip, and tire noise on passenger cars, commercial light trucks, and trucks