Apollo collaboration establishes first tire-test track in India

Kochi, India – Apollo Tyres, in collaboration with the India-based Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), has established India’s first tire test track in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The track, designed for testing the wet grip of tires, is set up in alignment with the Indian government’s plans to implement a ‘star rating’ scheme for tires in line with the European tire labelling regulation.

Apollo provided the technical expertise for building the track, the company announced 7 Nov.

In a bid to increase safety and improve road transport by promoting fuel-efficient tires, the Indian government has prepared a new automotive industry standard, AIS 142, in line with the European UNECE R117 tire testing regulation.

The standard, Apollo said, includes evaluation of tires with regards to rolling sound emissions, adhesion on wet surfaces and rolling resistance. 

However, a “major impediment” to the star rating scheme was the absence of an approved test track facilities in India, to assess traction on wet surface.

The new track has now been certified by TUV Rheinland, facilitator for automotive homologation, for compliance with the criteria set by the UNECE R117/ AIS 142. 

“We would like to further the cause of testing the tires and provide highest quality tires to our customers across geographies,” said Satish Sharma, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres.

The new track, according to Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer, Apollo Tyres, shows “very good level of correlation with test tracks in Europe.” 

The facility will enable Apollo Tyres to reduce the time to market of its products and lower testing costs.

Based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, GARC is a testing and homologation facility affiliated to the Indian government and certifies all category of vehicles, systems and components as per national and international standards.