Kistler offers high-tech measuring and testing systems for the tire industry as well as tire research and testing.

Measuring and test systems for the tire industry

Take full advantage of top performance

The tire industry has to face increasing requirements that also apply to the measuring systems used by tire developers and manufacturers in their tire tests. Vehicle tires have to fulfill ever-higher expectations and must comply with stricter international standards. The focus is on fuel consumption and noise emissions as well as more stringent safety and environmental standards. This is leading to a continuous overall increase in the approvals issued for tires, because the growing numbers of equipment variants for each vehicle model are also reflected in different options for tires – resulting in individual specifications for OEMs. Also, each car manufacturer gives priority to different tire characteristics such as steerability, sporting performance or ride comfort.

Electromobility, too, entails new requirements for tire specifications – due to the increased weight and higher torque of electric vehicles, among other reasons. Higher loads require tires with increased lateral stiffness, and the braking distance is extended. Lower rolling resistance helps to improve energy efficiency and thus increases the vehicle's range. Lower noise emissions mean comfort in the passenger compartment – and this criterion is becoming extremely important now that noise from a combustion engine is eliminated. However, immediate torque on start-up leads to faster wear and / or reduced running performance.

"Made-to-measure" tires are in demand. Flexible testing capacities and shorter test times are the keys to maintaining competitive edge.

Equipped for every tire test – play safe with our measuring and test systems for the tire industry

Fast approvals
Wide application scope thanks to compact design
Short testing times thanks to high reliability based on maximum reproducibility

Benefits of Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry and tire developers

A safe and sustainable investment

Long lifetimes thanks to robust and sustainable design
Low maintenance costs
For stationary and mobile tire tests
Ideal for upgrading tire test stands
Worldwide technical service from our local Service Centers

Reliable

Over 25 years of experience in tire testing
High-precision measuring hubs, measuring sensors and wheel force transducers for reliable measurement data
Validated test systems based on many years of operation by all the world's leading tire, automobile and test stand manufacturers
Overload protection

Efficient

Measuring hubs specially developed for highly dynamic and long-term measurements
Easy handling
Different technologies (piezoelectric, strain gauge and optical measurement technology) to ensure optimal alignment with testing requirements

The RoaDyn S220 measuring hub from Kistler used to measure the rolling resistance of a passenger car tire on the tire test stand. It captures wheel forces using the high-precision force measurement method as specified by the currently applicable standards

Measuring hubs from Kistler can be used on stationary tire test stands in the laboratory and also on mobile test rigs.

Tire test using a Kistler wheel force transducer to measure rolling resistance and an optical sensor for speed monitoring

Tire test – tire rolling resistance: comparative measurement on a curved carriageway (drum) to define the transfer factor

Measurement of rolling resistance on a tire of a NEV – the RoaDyn S220 measuring hub from Kistler (highlighted in blue) used to measure the rolling resistance of a passenger car tire (C1) on the tire test stand. It captures wheel forces using the high-precision force measurement method as specified by the currently applicable standards: ISO 28580, SAE J1269, and ECE R117.

With every tire test you perform, take advantage of Kistler RoaDyn measuring hubs, measuring sensors and wheel force transducers!

Our RoaDyn measuring hubs, measuring sensors and wheel force transducers record wheel forces and moments on tire test stands in laboratories and on mobile test vehicles. The force flux is optimized thanks to their compact design. This virtually eliminates parasitic influences such as force shunt, friction in the guideways, or influences due to large lever arms. Each measuring chain is completed by matching electronics to simplify implementation in your test stand.

Benefits of our RoaDyn measuring hubs for uniformity tests (HSU, NVH)

Validate tire noise through force measurement to complement the noise measurement done via microphone: this is crucial, as electrified vehicles (EVs, NEVs and PHEVs) are quite noiseless, due to the absence of the noise from the combustion engine.
Detect disruptive vibrations of a tire or wheel as the basis for eliminating the disturbing noises caused by them
Validate the dynamic parameters of a tire model
Specifically developed for highly dynamic measurements
High measuring accuracy and natural frequency thanks to the excellent stiffness of piezoelectric sensors
High load capacities combined with compact design
Various designs for different load ranges up to 100 kN
Measuring hubs for use with passenger cars available within short periods
Adaptations possible to meet customers' individual requirements
Upgrade for existing test stands (e.g. in acoustics laboratories) at low cost and effort

Advantages of our RoaDyn measuring hubs for rolling resistance measurements

Tire rolling resistance measurements on vehicles with combustion engines and electrified vehicles (EVs, NEVs and PHEVs)
Specially developed strain gauge load cells feature high sensitivity.
Reduced testing times lead to cost savings of up to 30 percent by measuring with the force measurement method – two tires can be tested at the same time.
Direct measurement of the tangential force Fx and the tire contact force Fz – the test stand can be controlled with no additional force measurement, and the tire's rolling resistance can be calculated.
Real measurements eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming downstream data processing.
Measuring hubs are specifically designed for wheel loads of 20 kN (passenger cars: C1) or 60 kN (trucks: C2, C3).

We supply the complete measuring chain for your application – everything from one single source

Characterizing the NVH behavior of tires on the tire test stand

Disturbing tire noise and vibrations (HSU, NVH) are gaining importance as the transformation of mobility proceeds and the percentage of alternative propulsion systems continues to increase. Thanks to piezo-based measuring hubs specifically developed for highly dynamic measurements, you can quickly identify the critical frequency ranges and non-uniformities of your tire.

You want to

Identify and analyze tire non-uniformities in all directions (HSU, flatspot, cleat)
Determine the tires' key data
Validate the dynamic parameters of tire models

Method

Accurately measure dynamic force variations in all three directions: radial force variation (RFV), lateral force variation (LFV) and tangential force variation (TFV)
Evaluate resonances and harmonic oscillations in the tire or the entire wheel

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

RoaDyn P530 measuring hub for passenger car tires
RoaDyn P5MT measuring hub for truck tires with loads of up to 100 kN
LabAmp charge amplifier

Determining rolling resistance on the tire test stand

You want to

Provide proof that rolling resistance design is optimal: a balance between minimum fuel consumption/minimum CO2 emissions and maintenance of safety-relevant tire characteristics and running performance
Define the rolling resistance that is disclosed to the end customer in the form of the tire label

Method

Perform rolling resistance measurements on the tire test stand as per ISO 28580, SAE J1269 and ECE R117
Accurately measure the rolling resistance based on the force measurement method. For this purpose, both force directions (Fx and Fz) are measured directly in the measuring hub. Parasitic influences are largely eliminated because the force sensors are positioned directly at the point of load application.

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

RoaDyn S220 measuring hub to measure rolling resistance of passenger car tires on the tire test stand
RoaDyn S260 measuring hub to measure rolling resistance of utility vehicle tires on the tire test stand
Digital electronics: KiRoad Tire Test, Type 9820Axx
Analog electronics: Type 5633A1

Validating tire models

You want to

Validate tire models both statically and dynamically in order to optimize development times for new tires and reduce the required numbers of test tires and tests

Method

Perform three-dimensional measurements of tire stiffness using a force plate whose measuring range can be matched exactly to the expected force
Use a drum test stand with mounted cleat for dynamic excitation of the tire/wheel and simultaneous measurement of the tire's frequency behavior

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

Multicomponent dynamometer, Type 9255C
Highly dynamic RoaDyn P530 and P5MT measuring hubs are used to measure the force amplitudes, dynamic behavior of a tire, power spectrum density and impact transient time response in the cleat test

Product finder

Multicomponent dynamometer

The measuring hub from Kistler measures highly dynamic force variations on the tire test stand with cleat.

Tire test: measurement of highly dynamic force variations
Highly dynamic RoaDyn P530 and P5MT measuring hubs are used to measure the force amplitudes, dynamic behavior of a tire, power spectrum density and impact transient time response in the cleat test.

End-of-line (EOL) testing

You want to

Assess the quality of tires or complete wheels based on measurement results at the end of the production line
Separate out unsatisfactory tires to prevent costly recall actions

Method

Measure the tire non-uniformity in all three directions in the slow range (TU, Tire Uniformity, 10 km/h) as well as the fast range (HSU, High Speed Uniformity, 120 km/h)

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

Prefabricated and calibrated force plate to install the customer's spindle
Set of four preloaded 3-component force sensors (force links), Type 93x7, for independent installation in the machine structure

Solutions for customer-specific geometries and load ranges are possible.

Set of four preloaded 3-component force sensors (force links)

Preloaded 3-component force sensors from Kistler are a good choice for tire end-of-line (EOL) testing.

Acquire road load data

You want to

Capture road load data close to real values during a defined test procedure with the vehicle on the test track or in real traffic, in order to perform subsequent tire tests on the tire test stand efficiently, while conserving resources, and in less time

Method

Measure real forces, moments and speeds on the vehicle using wheel force transducers and speed sensors

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

RoaDyn S6xy wheel force transducers
Correvit L-Motion, Type 5335A
Correvit SFII, Type CSF2A
Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) or driving robots simplify time-consuming and cost-intensive test drives for you – or they may even take over all the work

Fully equipped measurement vehicle for road load data acquisition

Fully equipped measurement vehicle to acquire road load data. With the addition of pedal and steering robots, Type CG300/Type CS-B20, test runs can largely be performed autonomously.

Strain-gauge-based measuring hubs from Kistler allow to measure force and moment (F&M) on tire test stands.

Product finder

Strain-gauge-based hubs for tire test stands

Force and moment (F&M), tire endurance and tire wear tests

You want to

Measure the forces and moments in the tire footprint to understand:
- Wheel alignment behavior and contribution to steering
- The spring rates of the tire in all three orthogonal directions
The impact of design adjustments into tire lifetime

Method

Perform force and moment (F&M) measurements on tire test stands

Use the static and accurate measuring results not only for tire research but also for controlling the test stand (closed loop control).

Recommended Kistler measuring and test systems for the tire industry

RoaDyn S530 measuring hub type 9289A013A1 / 9289A013A2 for passenger car tires up tp 30 kN load
RoaDyn S5ST measuring hub type 9289A253 for truck and bus (T&B) tires up tp 60 kN load
RoaDyn S5MT measuring hub type 9289A273 for truck and bus (T&B) tires up tp 100 kN load
Digital electronics KiRoad Tire Test type 9820Axx combined with type 5260A1120 / 5260A2120

Driving robots for efficient tire testing and highly accurate reproducibility (ADAS)

You want to

Save ressources and money
Improve the accuracy of real tire tests on the car
Reduce amount of repetitive test runs through precisely driven test profiles
Receive consistent road load data with simultaneous use of Kistler wheel force transducers

Method