Continental launches driving simulator for tire tests

Hanover, Germany – Continental Tires has put into operation a new driving simulator, which will be used for tire-development, especially at its OE business.

The ‘driver-in-the-loop’ simulator (DIL) has undergone a 12-month “intensive test phase” prior to the operational phase, said Continental in a 30 Nov statement.

The Hanover-based tire maker expects to save costs and raw materials and shorten development times with the use of the simulator.

DIL technology, according to Continental, calculates the exact driving dynamics parameters for tires and respective test vehicle.

The process involves loading the relevant tire model for the customer’s specific vehicle model into the simulator.

The tire model contains precise information on the tire design, tread, and rubber compound, explained Continental.

The test driver, therefore, drives a dedicated tire model for a specific vehicle model variant, as was previously the case on the physical test track.

The main advantage of the system is that the tire parameters can be adjusted digitally at any time.

This means that test drives can be repeated at short intervals and subjective drive 'impressions' can be compared directly with each other.

With its “high manoeuvrability”, Continental said the simulator can provide test drivers with “subjective driving 'impressions' that are comparable to those from tire tests on a real test track.”

“Virtual development methods enable us to offer solutions even more efficiently and more precisely tailored to the needs and requirements of our customers,” said Bernd Korte, head of passenger tire development, OE.

In addition to that, virtual test kilometres play a “major role” in saving resources, the statement continued.

Continental aims to use the simulator for all vehicle- and drive-variants: for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, for electric, hybrid and combustion-engine vehicles.