Smithers adds tyre ice grip testing to accreditation portfolio

Testing, consulting, information, and compliance services provider Smithers has added ISO 19447 testing, a method for measuring the relative ice grip performance of passenger car tyres, to its scope of accreditation. All testing will be conducted at the Smithers Winter Test Center (SWTC) in Michigan, USA.

Smithers explains that the ISO 19447 test method is very similar to ECE R117 C1 Braking, which is currently pending approval in Europe. These methods are part of the EU’s new ice grip label. The Ice Grip pictogram is shown for winter tyres with demonstrated ice braking performance. This is a separate label independent of the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) snow grip symbol.

“There is building demand for ISO 19447 testing right now, and very few companies who offer it. That’s largely due to the fact that ISO 19447 requires a prepared surface and a fairly extreme winter environment,” says Eric Pierce, principal engineer, Smithers Winter Test Center. “At Smithers, we have the experience to prepare the specialised surface required for ISO 19447 and the ideal environment, putting the latest ice grip test methodology right at our clients’ fingertips.”

ISO 19447 testing is conducted on a flat, polished ice surface. The surface must be prepared at least an hour before testing begins, and the ambient temperature must be between -15 and 4°C. Ice temperature must be between -15 and -5°C. Nine test runs are completed three times, on different days or surfaces, after fresh surface preparation. The highest and lowest scores of each nine-run sequence are deleted, and the remaining data is used for calculating ice grip.

Expanding capabilities as test methods evolve

“As snow and ice traction testing methods for tyres evolve, our goal is to continuously expand our capabilities at our proving grounds so our clients can keep pace with the latest innovations,” comments Jim Popio, PhD, vice president of the Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division. “The addition of ISO 19447 to our scope of accreditation is one of many investments we’ve made in recent years to ensure a world-class experience for our valued clients at the Smithers Winter Test Center.”

The SWTC facility is a winter proving ground in Brimley, Michigan, with over 800 acres (324 hectares) of snow, ice, and bare pavement surfaces and courses. OEMs and tier suppliers engage the facility for testing and conducting performance evaluations on vehicle systems, tyres, and components under the special challenges of extreme cold and hazardous road conditions. The facility is celebrating 50 years of supporting the automotive and tyre industries in 2023.