SOME FRICTION DATA ON MICROSIPED TIRES

MICROSIPING IS A PATENTED METHOD OF MAKING A LARGE NUMBER OF VERY FINE CUTS ('SIPES') IN THE TREAD OF COMMERCIAL TIRES. THE OBJECT OF MICROSIPING IS TO INPROVE WET TRACTION PERFORMANCE. TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CLAIMS MADE FOR MICROSIPING HAVE SUBSTANCE OR NOT, A PAIR OF IDENTICAL NEW TIRES, ONE MICROSIPED, THE OTHER NOT, WERE COMPARED FOR THEIR FRICTIONAL PROPERTIES IN THE BRAKING MODE BY MEANS OF THE PENN STATE ROAD FRICTION TESTER. THIS INVOLVED DETERMINATION OF THE BRAKE SLIP NUMBERS (EQUIVALENT TO THE MAXIMUM COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION THAT IS DEVELOPED WHILE WHEEL SLIP IS BEING INCREASED GRADUALLY BY BRAKING). THE RESULTS, THOUGH OBTAINED ON A SINGLE SECTION OF HIGHWAY, COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF BRAKE SLIP NUMBERS DUE TO THE GRADUALLY DIMINISHING AFTER EFFECTS OF A SNOW STORM WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE JUST PRIOR TO THE TEST PROGRAM. AT HIGH FRICTION LEVELS, THE MICROSIPED TIRE SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE CORRESPONDING UNSIPED TIRE. AT LOW FRICTION LEVELS, NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE COULD BE FOUND. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report No S27, 9 PP, 2 FIG, 1 TAB, 4 REF
• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Department of Mechanical Engineering
  University Park, PA  United States  16802
• Authors:
  • Domandl, H
• Publication Date: 1968-3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Braking; Friction; Friction tests; Moisture content; Pavements; Tire treads; Tires; Traction
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet conditions
• Old TRIS Terms: Commercial; Frictional properties; Microsiping
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00207021
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 28 1994 12:00AM