Measuring tread depth at speed possible with new Apollo Vredestein facility

To underline the company’s emphasis on road safety and the environment, Apollo Vredestein has unveiled a state-of-the-art laser tread depth measuring station at its Enschede site in the Netherlands. The addition of this new unit, says the tyre maker, will make visitors more aware of the importance of having the correct tread depth in terms of both their safety and the environment. The station was built in accordance with Apollo Vredestein’s ISO 14001 environmental certification, as was the tyre pressure station installed by the company in 2008.

“Over the past years the tyre industry has been facing increasingly strict regulations in the field of manufacturing, and tyre use and reuse,” said Rob Oudshoorn, CEO of Apollo Vredestein and member of the Board of Directors of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association. “The European Commission has raised the bar high regarding environmental regulations in the broadest sense of the word. The legislation to be implemented in 2012 is focused on three aspects: Sound levels, rolling resistance and grip on wet road surfaces. These are inextricably linked with one another, and the main goal is to reduce CO2 emissions. Apollo Vredestein will certainly meet these upcoming stringent requirements. At the same time, however, car owners have an equally important role to play and this is why we have been consistently and actively pointing out the need to have the right tyre pressure and tread depth.”

The laser tread depth measuring station was developed by Procontour for police applications and large car fleets. Measurement tools built into the road surface measure tread depth with a laser whenever a car drives over a grid. The system is capable of performing 35,000 measurements a minute and gives accurate figures at speeds of up to 120 km/h (75mph). It is equipped with a sensor and compressor that ensures the grid is blown clean whenever a car approaches to allow the laser to take measurements. A matrix sign then indicates the tread depth of the tyre with the least tread. In the long term, Apollo Vredestein aims to use the system at the facilities of business partners and at events or locations that feature a large number of vehicles.

As in the UK, tyres in the Netherlands must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, although safety organisations recommend at least a 4mm tread depth. Reduced tread depth and uneven wear considerably reduces tyre performance and thus Apollo Vredestein notes it is crucial that tread depth and tyre pressure are regularly checked.