Advanced Winter Tire Testing for Characterization in Extreme Conditions

IDIADA's partnership with UTAC Ivalo brings advanced tire characterization capabilities to the heart of Finnish Lapland, 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle. This strategic alliance combines IDIADA's sophisticated Skid Trailer technology with UTAC's world-class indoor and outdoor testing infrastructure, featuring authentic snow and ice circuits specifically designed for comprehensive winter tire evaluation.

The collaboration enables tire manufacturers and automotive OEMs to access specialized testing services for tire grip analysis and critical performance parameter evaluation under the harshest winter environments, providing essential data for tire modeling and vehicle integration optimization.

Advanced Skid Trailer Technology

IDIADA's Skid Trailer represents a breakthrough in tire characterization equipment, specifically engineered to perform dynamic testing under real proving ground conditions with complete control over tire attitude and precise measurement of forces and moments. Since becoming operational in January 2015, the system has been continuously enhanced to deliver superior characterization capabilities.

Key capabilities

• Lateral, longitudinal, and combined slip testing across multiple surface conditions
• Free rolling and braking response analysis with precise force and motion measurement
• Advanced tire model generation supporting both MF-Tire (Magic Formula) and FTire® parametric models

"Our Skid Trailer can perform tire characterization tests in indoor snow driving facilities, which makes it stand out against competitors' bulkier Skid Trailers," explains Joan Puig, Tire Development Product Manager at Applus+ IDIADA's Vehicle Dynamics Department.

Comprehensive Winter Testing Solutions

The winter testing program delivers comprehensive tire characterization services essential for:

• Virtual tire development and performance prediction
• Vehicle integration optimization through accurate tire behavior modeling
• Advanced tire model development for simulation and validation purposes

Year-Round Testing Capabilities

While winter conditions represent a specialized focus, IDIADA's Skid Trailer technology operates throughout the year at the company's proving ground facilities in Spain, enabling comprehensive tire testing across all climatic conditions. This versatility ensures continuous development support for tire manufacturers seeking to optimize performance across diverse operational environments.

The equipment supports testing on multiple surface types, from dry and wet summer conditions to snow and ice winter conditions designed for force and moment tyre characterization evaluation, making it an essential tool for complete tire development programs.