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ABOUT THE TESTING
PAGE 2 continued
The single biggest issue, which everyone agreed on, was
conducting a fair and equal comparison in conditions and on
surfaces that change every time you drive over them. It’s just a fact of
life on off road trails, but we attempted to maintain as much equality
as possible, even run the first tire driven on a specific test one more
time after the opther tires were tested just to see if the trail section
changed significantly from the first run. We in fact did this several
times, and never once did we find that it made a difference in the
outcome of each test. We also used an on-board data logger to
record speed, lateral and logitudinal forces and map position via
GPS. We also installed wheel speed sensors on each wheel to
measure wheelspin, an significant component of traction on
slippery surfaces. Our testing goal was to abuse these tires to
destruction, if possible, and determine traction from the tread, the
sidewall, on rocks, snow, ice, mud, steep climbs and anything else
that we may encounter.
But we really wanted visual records of the testing. We used four
video cameras mounted to “view” each of the tire contact patchs
during each test, While the data is interesting and useful, what you
can see really tells the story about the tests and each of the tires.
We also used an on-baord video camera to get a driver’s view as
well as up to five other video cameras from outside the vehicle. The
result was nearly 50 hours of video to view analyze and edit. (Be
careful what you wish for.) The results are right here for everyone to
see and decide for yourself.
We also wanted to take this a step farther. We have often worked
with the team at the San Bernardino National Forest Association, a
non-profit arm of the National Forest Service who operate the Big
Bear Discovery Center and several other programs, and their Off
Highway Vehicle Volunteers. So we asked the Executive Director if
they would consider providing a third-party verification observer, just
too assure that we getting right and that each tire was treated fairly
and equally. They agreed and their help was instrumental in making
the test the best one possible given the limitations of “real world”
4x4 off road testing.
After countless hours of preparation, purchasing tires for testing (all
tires are Load Range “E”, or 10 ply rated), installing cameras and
getting other gear ready, eight gruelling days on the trails and test
track, we have nearly 50 hours of video, only minor equipment
problems, a very tired crew, ten vehicles, recoveries (nine in deep
snow and eight on our own vehicles, all on the first day of testing
before the snow melted too much), over three hundred tire changes
(we used only one mostly stock Land Rover Discovery Series 1) and
not one single tire failure – amazingly!! Which speaks volumes for
the durability and quality of all of the tires. We never had to change a
tire that went flat, and we used only four of each tire for all of the
testing. And while I would not say that all of the tires came though
the test unscathed, I would not hesitate to drive on any of them, off
road, though on road is little different story, which you can see in the
test videos. But generally, all of the tires performed well, with some
getting a clear edge in traction in certain conditions. They held up
very well, so durability and quality seem to nearly equal. And
considering the extreme abuse we put them through, that says a lot
about the tires.
Back to Page 1 - Click Here
PAGE 2 continued
The single biggest issue, which everyone agreed on, was
conducting a fair and equal comparison in conditions and on
surfaces that change every time you drive over them. It’s just a fact of
life on off road trails, but we attempted to maintain as much equality
as possible, even run the first tire driven on a specific test one more
time after the opther tires were tested just to see if the trail section
changed significantly from the first run. We in fact did this several
times, and never once did we find that it made a difference in the
outcome of each test. We also used an on-board data logger to
record speed, lateral and logitudinal forces and map position via
GPS. We also installed wheel speed sensors on each wheel to
measure wheelspin, an significant component of traction on
slippery surfaces. Our testing goal was to abuse these tires to
destruction, if possible, and determine traction from the tread, the
sidewall, on rocks, snow, ice, mud, steep climbs and anything else
that we may encounter.
But we really wanted visual records of the testing. We used four
video cameras mounted to “view” each of the tire contact patchs
during each test, While the data is interesting and useful, what you
can see really tells the story about the tests and each of the tires.
We also used an on-baord video camera to get a driver’s view as
well as up to five other video cameras from outside the vehicle. The
result was nearly 50 hours of video to view analyze and edit. (Be
careful what you wish for.) The results are right here for everyone to
see and decide for yourself.
We also wanted to take this a step farther. We have often worked
with the team at the San Bernardino National Forest Association, a
non-profit arm of the National Forest Service who operate the Big
Bear Discovery Center and several other programs, and their Off
Highway Vehicle Volunteers. So we asked the Executive Director if
they would consider providing a third-party verification observer, just
too assure that we getting right and that each tire was treated fairly
and equally. They agreed and their help was instrumental in making
the test the best one possible given the limitations of “real world”
4x4 off road testing.
After countless hours of preparation, purchasing tires for testing (all
tires are Load Range “E”, or 10 ply rated), installing cameras and
getting other gear ready, eight gruelling days on the trails and test
track, we have nearly 50 hours of video, only minor equipment
problems, a very tired crew, ten vehicles, recoveries (nine in deep
snow and eight on our own vehicles, all on the first day of testing
before the snow melted too much), over three hundred tire changes
(we used only one mostly stock Land Rover Discovery Series 1) and
not one single tire failure – amazingly!! Which speaks volumes for
the durability and quality of all of the tires. We never had to change a
tire that went flat, and we used only four of each tire for all of the
testing. And while I would not say that all of the tires came though
the test unscathed, I would not hesitate to drive on any of them, off
road, though on road is little different story, which you can see in the
test videos. But generally, all of the tires performed well, with some
getting a clear edge in traction in certain conditions. They held up
very well, so durability and quality seem to nearly equal. And
considering the extreme abuse we put them through, that says a lot
about the tires.
Back to Page 1 - Click Here
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Copyright 2009 Don Alexander
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