ETRMA reports on progress with UNECE tire-abrasion test programme

Brussels – Governmental agency officials have attended a recent workshop on the requirements of tire-abrasion test methodology adopted by the UNECE ‘working party on noise and tyres’ (GRBP), the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has reported.

Among the participants were representatives from: the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO); GRBP; the European Commission's Mobility Unit of the DG for the internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs; the technical regulations and vehicle approval office of the French general directorate for energy and climate change; and Dutch vehicle authority RDW.

The two-day workshop at a DEKRA test centre* addressed the implementation of the open-road tire abrasion methodology and the ISO 17025 accreditation process (including driver training), according to a 30 Aug release from the ETRMA.

Topics covered included the management and progressive control of the open-road abrasion test and the composition of the convoy regarding the skills and experience required of drivers.

The event included testing on a mix of urban-like, regional and highway roads, using  a vehicle convoy to enable participants to appreciate the complexity of the test and the importance of the driver's ability to follow test guidelines.

A review of the speed/time graphs of the convoy and guest vehicles “demonstrated the possibility of running a convoy test in real traffic and ensuring the same conditions for all cars in the convoy,” ETRMA continued.

The participants could also appreciate how the same roads can be used by different customers to evaluate abrasion properties under specific driving conditions, according to the association.

For example, it explained, “a driver could test high lateral acceleration for sports car manufacturers (80km/h – maximum legal allowed speed) vs. ‘normal’ driving conditions (60km/h) for the R117 abrasion procedure.”

Tests on passenger car tires will continue in the following months to collect abrasion data on tires of different sizes, models and brands to allow the determination of tire-abrasion limits for inclusion in the UN Regulation 117 by September 2025.

“The European tire industry has invested significantly in this market assessment, and the UNECE tyre abrasion methodology will become the reference methodology of the Euro 7 proposal of the EU,” ETRMA concluded.

*Location details not included.