Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for monitoring tire aging with respect to a motor vehicle and/or across vehicle fleets. A computing device (e.g., cloud server) is linked to vehicle-mounted data acquisition devices which provide signals corresponding to ambient temperature and contained air temperatures for respective tires. The computing device ascertains oxidative aging characteristics for the tires, based on at least the collected ambient temperature and respective contained air temperature, and respective rates of accumulation thereof with respect to time and/or distance traveled, and further ascertains the oxidative aging characteristics for each tire with respect to a fixed reference ambient temperature, and respective rates of accumulation thereof with respect to time and/or distance traveled. Selectively generated output signals correspond to monitored characteristics and respective rates of accumulation thereof for the respective tires.

Abstract: A real time tire pressure sensing system includes sensors to collectively generate signals corresponding to a contained tire air temperature, a contained inflation pressure, and an ambient temperature associated with a tire mounted on a vehicle. A processor determines an effective tire inflation pressure based on the generated signals and further at least on a calculated moving average of the ambient temperature (e.g., over a defined time period such as 24 hours) and generates real time notifications associated with the determined effective tire inflation pressure to specified user interfaces. At least one sensor may be an inflation pressure sensor configured to generate event-based signals corresponding to detected changes per unit pressure. The processor may further generate real time feedback control signals to an automatic tire inflation device, based on the determined effective tire inflation pressure, or enable and prompt manual control of the tire inflation device via the user interface.

Abstract: A method of testing a tire is employed in an enclosed system having a drum enclosure connected to a tire enclosure by flexible bellows, the enclosed system configured such that a tire inside the tire enclosure abuts a drum inside the drum enclosure. The method includes rotating the drum at a first angular velocity, thereby causing the tire to rotate at the first angular velocity. The method further includes measuring a temperature at a first location adjacent the tire and blowing cool air into the tire enclosure when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. The method also includes measuring a humidity level at a second location and adding moisture in the tire enclosure when the measured humidity level falls below a predetermined humidity threshold.

Abstract: A real time tire pressure sensing system includes sensors to collectively generate signals corresponding to a contained tire air temperature, a contained inflation pressure, and an ambient temperature associated with a tire mounted on a vehicle. A processor determines an effective tire inflation pressure based on the generated signals and further at least on a calculated moving average of the ambient temperature (e.g., over a defined time period such as 24 hours) and generates real time notifications associated with the determined effective tire inflation pressure to specified user interfaces. At least one sensor may be an inflation pressure sensor configured to generate event-based signals corresponding to detected changes per unit pressure. The processor may further generate real time feedback control signals to an automatic tire inflation device, based on the determined effective tire inflation pressure, or enable and prompt manual control of the tire inflation device via the user interface.

Abstract: A method of testing a tire is employed in an enclosed system having a drum enclosure connected to a tire enclosure by flexible bellows, the enclosed system configured such that a tire inside the tire enclosure abuts a drum inside the drum enclosure. The method includes rotating the drum at a first angular velocity, thereby causing the tire to rotate at the first angular velocity. The method further includes measuring a temperature at a first location adjacent the tire and blowing cool air into the tire enclosure when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. The method also includes measuring a humidity level at a second location and adding moisture in the tire enclosure when the measured humidity level falls below a predetermined humidity threshold.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining simulated tire data for a simulated tire, simulated vehicle data for a simulated vehicle, and simulated test course data. The simulated tire data includes data to build a basic tire model. The simulated vehicle data includes data to build a basic vehicle model. The simulated test course data includes position-based course data in a horizontal plane and position-based course data in a vertical direction. The method further includes generating a tire load history from the basic tire model, the basic vehicle model, and the simulated test course data.

Abstract: A tire having an indicator device that visually indicates exposure of the tire to a pre-selected temperature is provided, and an indicator device that may be positioned on a tire, for indicating that the tire has been exposed to a pre-selected temperature. The device includes expandable graphite dispersed within a pouch or binder. Also described is a method for detecting that a tire has been exposed to excessive temperature. The method includes providing a tire that includes at least one indicator device that contains a pouch or binder and expandable graphite dispersed in the pouch or binder. Visual inspection of the tire to detect a change in the appearance, shape, volume or texture of the indicator device can indicate that the tire has been exposed to a temperature that meets or exceeds a pre-selected temperature.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining simulated tire data for a simulated tire, simulated vehicle data for a simulated vehicle, and simulated test course data. The simulated tire data includes data to build a basic tire model. The simulated vehicle data includes data to build a basic vehicle model. The simulated test course data includes position-based course data in a horizontal plane and position-based course data in a vertical direction. The method further includes generating a tire load history from the basic tire model, the basic vehicle model, and the simulated test course data.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to methods, systems, devices, and non-transitory media for increasing repeatability and reliability of tire testing trials including one or more of the following: capturing position data from a position sensor, wherein the capture of the position data is indicative of alignment with the desired testing area along the first axis; determining whether the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and when the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis, effecting initiation of a testing event.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to methods, systems, devices, and non-transitory media for increasing repeatability and reliability of tire testing trials including one or more of the following: capturing position data from a position sensor, wherein the capture of the position data is indicative of alignment with the desired testing area along the first axis; determining whether the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and when the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis, effecting initiation of a testing event.

Abstract: A method for reducing vehicle bias when testing a tire for use with a market segment of vehicles by creating a vehicle model that is scalable by vehicle weight. A market segment of vehicles is defined, at least one of a vehicle model parameter is defined, data is collected for the at least one vehicle model parameter from at least one vehicle in the market segment, the at least one vehicle model parameter is characterized through regression analysis as a function of total weight of a scalable vehicle model, the scalable vehicle model parameter is applied to a multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, at least one maneuver is applied to the scalable vehicle model, and the tire load histories generated by the multibody vehicle dynamics simulation are provided to a tire test machine to obtain tire wear data representative of the vehicles in the market segment.

Abstract: A method for reducing vehicle bias when testing a tire for use with a market segment of vehicles by creating a vehicle model that is scalable by vehicle weight. A market segment of vehicles is defined, at least one of a vehicle model parameter is defined, data is collected for the at least one vehicle model parameter from at least one vehicle in the market segment, the at least one vehicle model parameter is characterized through regression analysis as a function of total weight of a scalable vehicle model, the scalable vehicle model parameter is applied to a multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, at least one maneuver is applied to the scalable vehicle model, and the tire load histories generated by the multibody vehicle dynamics simulation are provided to a tire test machine to obtain tire wear data representative of the vehicles in the market segment.

Abstract: Tire testing systems and methods are disclosed for indoor simulation testing of tires of a wide range of sizes on a scalable vehicle model (“SVM”).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substantially rigid hardened wear surface for a tire tread wear testing apparatus is provided, the method comprising making a cast of a road surface on which tread wear of the tire is to be tested, providing a layer of adhesive mixed with at least one aggregate and configured for hardening to create the substantially rigid hardened wear surface, while the layer of adhesive is unhardened: (a) coating the layer of adhesive onto a road wheel of the tire tread wear testing apparatus, and (b) stamping an impression of the cast into the layer of epoxy adhesive for producing the wear surface adapted for emulating one or more surface roughness characteristics of the road surface.

Abstract: A tire testing apparatus that includes a test drum and at least one tire station. The test drum has an outer radial surface and a plurality of sectioned plates having outer radial test surfaces, wherein the plurality of sectioned plates mount on the outer radial surface of the test drum. The tire testing apparatus further includes at least one tire station having a selected tire with a tread, wherein the tread of the selected tire presses against the outer radial test surface of the plurality of sectional plates, and wherein the at least one tire station applies a force against the tread of the selected tire. Further, a tire testing method includes providing a selected tire having a circumferential tread and moving the selected tire against a rotating test drum having a plurality of sectional plates having a test surface.

Abstract: A tire testing apparatus that includes a test drum and at least one tire station. The test drum has an outer radial surface and a plurality of sectioned plates having outer radial test surfaces, wherein the plurality of sectioned plates mount on the outer radial surface of the test drum. The tire testing apparatus further includes at least one tire station having a selected tire with a tread, wherein the tread of the selected tire presses against the outer radial test surface of the plurality of sectional plates, and wherein the at least one tire station applies a force against the tread of the selected tire. Further, a tire testing method includes providing a selected tire having a circumferential tread and moving the selected tire against a rotating test drum having a plurality of sectional plates having a test surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substantially rigid hardened wear surface for a tire tread wear testing apparatus is provided, the method comprising making a cast of a road surface on which tread wear of the tire is to be tested, providing a layer of adhesive mixed with at least one aggregate and configured for hardening to create the substantially rigid hardened wear surface, while the layer of adhesive is unhardened: (a) coating the layer of adhesive onto a road wheel of the tire tread wear testing apparatus, and (b) stamping an impression of the cast into the layer of epoxy adhesive for producing the wear surface adapted for emulating one or more surface roughness characteristics of the road surface.

Abstract: A method of tire testing comprising applying a drive torque to a tire and a wheel assembly about an axis of rotation to drive the tire and wheel assembly and a rotatable drum with the tire in rolling contact with the rotatable drum; controlling a load pressure of the tire against the rotatable drum; and adjusting a lateral position of the tire across a surface of the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A method of tire testing comprising applying a drive torque to a tire and a wheel assembly about an axis of rotation to drive the tire and wheel assembly and a rotatable drum with the tire in rolling contact with the rotatable drum; controlling a load pressure of the tire against the rotatable drum; and adjusting a lateral position of the tire across a surface of the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A method of developing a set of input forces used to analyze tire wear includes the steps of characterizing a wear course by driving a vehicle over the wear course and measuring data related to a plurality of forces experienced by the vehicle. A vehicle characterization model for a target vehicle having at least one tire is developed. The vehicle characterization model is used to calculate force data that represents the forces that would be experienced by at least one tire of the characterized vehicle if the characterized vehicle were driven over the characterized wear test course in the first vehicle configuration. The force data is then used to analyze tire wear using a computer prediction technique or by running an indoor wear test on the tire.