Apollo Tyres inaugurates Chennai tyre testing facility

Apollo Tyres has opened a new Advanced Tyre Testing facility within its Global R&D Centre, Asia in Chennai, India. The new test centre features a Flat-trac machine and an anechoic chamber, which help define the dynamics and acoustics of tyres, leading to faster product development for both OE and replacement markets. The development of tyres for high-end passenger vehicles, EV specific tyres for passenger vehicles and high-end motorcycle tyres will be at the heart of work taking place within the new facility.

More specifically, the Flat-trac machine, which is a key component of advanced tyre testing, is used to characterise handling parameters and tyre models, measuring force and moment (F&M) properties of tyres, as per vehicle’s improved dynamics. This machine is custom designed to address tyre simulation needs of future vehicles, such as EVs and autonomous vehicles. Unlike previous versions, this machine replicates real-life situations, including emergency manoeuvres of vehicles like high slip angles and high torque ramp-up. For two-wheelers, it simulates the most severe inclinations, as prevalent amongst premium motorcycle riders.

Another component of this testing facility is the High-Speed Uniformity machine combined with Anechoic Chamber. This helps simulate the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) properties of the tyres, which are critical for vehicles, especially EVs and premium vehicles. This machine combines the study of both mechanical and acoustic comfort parameters, by building different road profiles for the tyres to be tested.

Speaking at the inauguration, Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said: “We strongly focus on continuous improvement in efficiency and effectiveness of product development, and this new facility will further augment our testing capabilities for future vehicle models. We will be able to fine tune the performance of our products by simulating closely to the real-world conditions using this facility. This is aligned with Apollo Tyres’ 2026 vision, of which Technology is a key pillar.”