Kit allows tire testing on icy road conditions

The Ice Disk tire testing retrofit kit allows users to evaluate friction performance on icy surfaces and abrasion of tire tread compounds at elevated temperatures. Meant to work with VMI Americas Inc.´s LAT-100 model, the stainless steel disk has channels inside through which a liquid, ranging from -30°C to 80°C, is pumped from a temperature-controlled bath. After cooling between -4°C and -25°C, the groove in the disk can be filled with water. When frozen, this allows friction measurements to be carried in a similar way as wet or dry force measurements are accomplished on aluminum or other surfaces. At temperatures above zero, a corundum ring can be clamped into the groove and abrasion measurements can be carried out between 10°C and 75°C. For more information, contact Arie Kroeze by phone at 330-929-6800, Ext. 223; fax at 330-929-7254; or e-mail [email protected]