Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 10, 2001 02:00 AM

Ford engineers to certify OE tire safety, durability

Richard Truett, Crain News Service
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    DETROIT (July 10, 2001)—Ford Motor Co.'s team of about 100 engineers plan to certify the safety and durability of tires supplied for its vehicles by conducting a series of tests born out of its research into Firestone tire failures.

    The team will subject tires to various new tests, including:

    c Measuring wedge thickness. The wedge is the rubber insert between the steel belts that absorbs stress and heat created by the belts as the tire turns. Wedges made too thin could cause trouble as the tire ages. By tearing apart hundreds of tires, Ford has learned that heat will cause a thin wedge to crack and the belts to separate from the tire casing. Ford will look for consistency in the wedges on same-model tires made in different plants.

    c Monitoring tread temperature. High heat makes rubber age faster, which leads to cracks and tread separation. Ford will use a non-invasive method of measuring tread temperature to ensure that a tire won´t overheat under load and with varying pressure. Ford engineers feel they have advanced tire safety testing by measuring tire temperature while it is in motion, rather than by stopping it and cutting into the tread to measure heat buildup.

    c Determining the amount of force it takes to pull the belts apart. The greater a tire's peel strength, the less chance of tread separation.

    Other durability testing Ford will do in-house and with tire companies includes measuring tire performance under extremely stressful conditions, such as at high speed, high load and at high temperatures.

    In testimony before Congress last month, Ford CEO Jacques Nasser said the auto maker´s tire team has spent nearly 100,000 hours testing tires. The cost: at least $25 million.

    Ford spokesman Jon Harmon said that in addition to stricter in-house tire testing at Ford´s Dearborn, Mich., headquarters, the auto maker also is establishing an early warning system that links Ford to tire suppliers' warranty claims data. Ford's toughened tire tests cover all its vehicles, not just trucks.

    Richard Truett writes for Automotive News, a sister publication of Tire Business.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Icahn-owned Auto Plus files for Chapter 11 protection
    2
    Toyo rolls out new Celsius II all-weather touring tire
    3
    SEMA urges USTR to end section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods
    4
    Buying group ITDG hires Jason Rook as top executive
    5
    Milestar to be official UTV tire of King of Hammers
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION