Tire testing the Michelin Rock’R, Grip’R and beyond
Checking and standardizing tire pressure is critical (click to enlarge). Photo by Jeremie Reuiller
Michelin is a renowned brand when it comes to tires. They understand rubber technology very well and they take the time to develop tires for the specific application where it will be used.
They gave us a glimpse in to their process and it’s just not a matter of banging out tires to pursue trends and see what sticks out there in the marketplace. It is indeed a much more involved process. Michelin goes through a series of design iterations and objective testing. They take the time to make sure a tire is designed for a particular purpose and all the science and metrics are there to back it up.
Michelin was set up with a pit tent and shuttle vehicles in Squamish, BC. (click to enlarge) Photo by Jeremie Reuiller
But are they done after that? Apparently not. They allowed us to experience their collaborative efforts with their race team and test teams to get some real-world feedback on their tires. This is where the theoretical calculations take a back seat and the the tires are tested by real riders in diverse conditions.
Adjustments and modifications are then made until the right blend of tire is created.
Michelin employs five types of tests that includes laboratory, machine, subjective and objective, competition and customer tests (click to enlarge).
Market demands are measured and a design is set in to motion. Many computer and math calculations are performed and design iterations are started. Once a design has been chosen in the virtual world of calculations, then comes real-life testing. This phase is vital in order to sign off the chosen technologies. Michelin employs five types of test:
- Laboratory tests on the materials and semi-finished rubber compounds and textile or metallic materials that make up the tire
- Machine tests
- Tire testing on rigs (static and dynamic) subjective and objective tests
- Competition
- Customer tests
To keep the testers fresh and for the sake of efficiency, shuttle vehicles were used (click to enlarge). Photo by Jeremie Reuiller
Continue to page 2 for the test rides in Squamish, BC. »
The post Tire testing the Michelin Rock’R, Grip’R and beyond appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.