Verify Tyre Durability Before the Next Development Stage
Are you developing a new tyre or modifying its construction, compound, or production technology? Check how the finished tyre withstands long-term rolling under load before proceeding to costly field trials. Fatigue tests on the LEONARDO treadmill machine help detect potential weak points and compare variants under identical conditions. You receive data supporting the choice of solution and planning of further work.
Wide Range of Tyres Tested
You can test both smaller industrial tyres and large agricultural tyres. The two stations of the LEONARDO machine allow for selecting the test range according to tyre dimensions and required loads.
Right Station
- tyre outer diameter: 400–1500 mm,
- tyre width: up to 1000 mm,
- maximum radial load: 150 kN — equivalent to a load of approximately 15.3 t,
- maximum axial load: 60 kN — equivalent to a load of approximately 6.1 t,
- possibility of testing with slip and wheel camber in the range of ±15°.
Left Station
- tyre outer diameter: 800–2200 mm,
- tyre width: up to 1000 mm,
- maximum radial load: 250 kN — equivalent to a load of approximately 25.5 t.
Exact test conditions are determined individually, depending on the tyre and the purpose of the test.
Test Program Adapted to Operating Conditions
Constant load is not always sufficient to evaluate the developed design. You can check the tyre’s behavior during subsequent test stages, with parameter changes corresponding to the assumed operating scenario. The station uses a 3000 mm diameter drive drum, air-cooled, and allows testing at speeds up to 110 km/h.
The program allows to determine:
- rolling speed,
- tyre load,
- duration of individual stages.
Parameters can change even every minute, which allows assessing the tyre’s reaction to variable test conditions.
Report Supporting Design Decisions
To evaluate a change, you need documented results. After the test, you receive a report allowing you to analyze the tyre’s behavior and compare variants tested according to the same program.
The report includes, among others:
- speed,
- load,
- pressure,
- tyre sidewall temperature,
- ambient temperature,
- entire test run.
The data helps assess the impact of material and structural changes and determine the scope of subsequent tests.
Thermal Monitoring — Check Where the Tyre Heats Up
Excessive heating can indicate areas requiring more detailed analysis. Visual and thermal cameras enable continuous observation of the tyre during testing and temperature control of:
- tyre sidewalls,
- tread blocks,
- spaces between blocks.
This allows you to identify areas particularly susceptible to temperature increase and incorporate these observations into further design work.
Station Preparation for Your Tyre
You can use the research facilities without investing in your own treadmill machine. Mountings for 8- and 10-hole rims are available, and for non-standard solutions, it is possible to manufacture a dedicated hub adapted to the rim.
Send the tyre size, rim data, and test objective to determine mounting feasibility and an appropriate test program. Tests at Kabat Tyre are for development work and internal product evaluation by the manufacturer. They are not conducted for certification or tyre homologation purposes.
