A new facility aimed at reducing product development cycles for new Apollo tire projects has been inaugurated at the tire maker’s global R&D center in Chennai, India. The new Advanced Tyre Testing facility is intended to help Apollo experts improve the efficiency and effectiveness of product development cycles for passenger vehicle and two-wheeler tires, including those for electric vehicle applications.
The new facility features a custom-designed Flat-Trac machine and anechoic chamber, which will be used to characterize the performance of tire dynamics and acoustics, leading to faster product development for OE and replacement projects.
“We strongly focus on continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of product development, and this new facility will further augment our testing capabilities for future vehicle models,” said Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer at Apollo Tyres. “We will be able to fine-tune the performance of our products by simulating closely the real-world conditions using this facility. This is aligned with Apollo Tyres’ 2026 vision, of which technology is a key pillar.”
The Flat-Trac machine is used to characterize handling parameters and tire models, measuring the force and moment (F&M) properties of tires. This machine is custom designed to address the tire simulation needs of future vehicles, such as EVs and autonomous vehicles. Unlike previous iterations, it replicates real-life situations, including emergency vehicle maneuvers such as high slip angles and high torque ramp-up. For two-wheeler applications, the machine simulates the most severe inclinations.
The testing facility also features a high-speed uniformity machine, combined with an anechoic chamber. This helps simulate the NVH properties of tires, and combines the study of mechanical and acoustic comfort parameters by building different road profiles for the tires to be tested.
