As Goodyear celebrates its 75th year of tire testing in San Angelo, Texas, the company has expanded its capability for evaluating different types of tires – from sportscar tires to earthmover truck tires – at the site.
This includes a second vehicle dynamics area in the form of a 324,000ft2 paved pad, as well as an additional evaluation facility for off-road products, which will house state-of-the-art equipment for testing the largest earthmover tires.
The new vehicle dynamics area is designed for tire testing in very wet conditions and is a precision-engineered paved surface with a 1° slope to enable constant water flow across the surface. All water is recycled and reused.
A 250 ton, 25ft-tall earthmover haul truck has also been added to the fleet at the facility.
“This enormous testing facility is vital to Goodyear’s product development process, and we are continuing to invest in its capability to bring innovative tires to customers,” said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer.
“Countless applications in consumer and commercial tires, including the use of unique sustainable materials, advanced fuel efficiency technologies, and even tires that can operate with no air, have been tested at San Angelo.”
The tire evaluation center was established in 1944 and is the company’s biggest test base. The first test surface was created there in 1957. It covers 7,250 acres and includes 58 miles of roads and track, 14 miles of fence and more than 200 test vehicles. Approximately 20,000 tires are tested there annually. There are 53 different test surfaces, ranging from asphalt and concrete to bricks, blocks, dirt, mud, and more.
Take a virtual tour of the Goodyear Proving Grounds in Texas here.
