FIGURE-8 TIRE ABRASION TEST By Troy Cottles Overview

1. FIGURE-8 TIRE ABRASION TEST • By • Troy Cottles • Overview • This vehicle test evaluates 5 sets of tires selected from a larger group of 12 tire brands in 185/70R14 size. These 5 tire sets had tread and belt designs that each demonstrated distinct component combinations. The figure-8 test is an on-vehicle test utilizing forces derived from vehicle mass, speed, and turning radius to apply abrasive side forces to the front tires. • Instrumentation Utilized: • Walking meter • Laser Non-Contacting Thermometer • Digital Camera • Video Camera • 4-Way Tire Wrench • Floor Jack • Test Site and Conditions: • Huntsville, AL Drag way paved asphalt parking lot. • Date: 4/28/06 • Drivers: Heath Dorning and Troy Cottles • Vehicle: 1999 Honda Civic 2Dr. • Tire inflation pressures: 30 PSI front/29 PSI rear • Honda 14”x5.5” rims • Figure-8 dimensions: Each loop ~25’ x ~15’ outer radius with ~30’ transition. • Vehicle ballasts: LF=200#, RF=150#, LR=150#, RR=100#. • Full throttle in 2nd gear. • Test Tire Sets: • Set 1—Cooper Lifeliner SLE • Set 2—Dunlop SP20FE • Set 3—Federal 735 • Set 4—Uniroyal Tiger Paw • Set 5—Bridgestone B700AQ

2. Object of Research • The object of this research is to evaluate tires for abrasion resistance and heat generation when exposed to the figure-8 test protocol. • Experimental Profile • Five tire sets of the same size were evaluated on the same day, on same surface, and using the same test vehicle over a Figure-8 pattern marked by cones. All tires were 185/70R14 size. Tires were available in full vehicle sets, but upon completion of the third round, it was apparent that the rear tires were not experiencing any significant abrasion and the third test set’s rear tires were left on the test vehicle throughout the rest of the evaluations (replacing front tires only) in the interest of time. • At the onset of the test, consideration was given to running the tires to abrasion failure and air-out. For this reason, the first set was run beyond the point of belt end exposure. During testing of the first tire set, a determination was made not to run to failure, in order to protect the test rims and tires. The point of initial belt exposure was noted in each case. As a result, the final appearance of Set 1tire sections does not represent their initial exposure appearance. • LF#64, RF#63: Cooper Lifeliner SLE, 185/70R14 88T, plant code: U9 (U.S. for North America), cure code: 4405, 4305. • LF#74, RF#75: Dunlop SP20Fe, P185/70R14 87S, plant code: M6 (U.S. for North America), cure code: 0505, 0505. • LF# 77, RF#80: Federal Supersteel 735, 185/70R14 88T, plant code: 2E (China for North America), cure code: 4705, 4705. • LF#71, RF#72: Uniroyal Tiger Paw, P185/70R14 87S, plant code: K4 (Mexico for North America), cure code: 3305, 3305. • LF#88, RF#87: Bridgestone B700AQ, 185/70R14 88T, plant code: 2R (Indonesia for Middle East), cure code: 4905, 4905. • Vehicle alignment was checked to be on specification. Set 1 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, no belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 2 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, 1x2 wires, belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 3 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, no belt wedges, nylon edge bands. Set 4 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, large belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 5 featured: a tread cap, no tread base, two steel belts, belt wedges, nylon cap plies.

3. Vehicle Figure 8 Test Types of tread/belt designs to be evaluated Bridgestone B700AQ Cooper Lifeliner SLE Dunlop SP20FE 1x2 wire Federal 735 Uniroyal TigerPaw Set 1 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, no belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 2 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, 1x2 wires, belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 3 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, no belt wedges, nylon edge bands. Set 4 featured: a tread cap, a tread base, two steel belts, large belt wedges, no nylon cap plies. Set 5 featured: a tread cap, no tread base, two steel belts, belt wedges, nylon cap plies.

4. Test Results Results: Max Heat Build Up Avg. Set Heat Build UpLaps to Belt Exposure Set 1 (Cooper) 245 degrees F 204 degrees F 90 Set 2 (Dunlop) 256 degrees F 217 degrees F 90 Set 3 (Federal) 239 degrees F 215 degrees F 180 Set 4 (Uniroyal) 258 degrees F 205 degrees F 90 Set 5 (B’stone) 265 degrees F 233 degrees F 70 (nylon exposure); 170

6. Conclusions • Recognizing that there are rubber compounding, construction, tread pattern, and profile influences involved in how a particular tire manages side forces, efforts were made to isolate as many additional variables as possible by completing the testing within the same day, using the same OE rims, inflating to the same inflation pressure, marking the same course, and testing on the same vehicle and under the same vehicle loads. • There was only a 26 degree range of max heat build-up among the 5 sets of tires, and a 29 degree range for the average of the front tires of each set. • Sets 1, 2, and 4 had no nylon cap plies. These sets all began exposing steel belts in the tread shoulder area at 90 laps. • Set 3 featured nylon edge bands. This tire exposed steel belts in the tread shoulder area at 180 laps. • Set 5 featured a nylon cap ply. This tire exposed nylon at 70 laps, but did not expose steel belts in the tread shoulder area until 170 laps. • Rank order for laps to exposure of steel belts was as follows: Federal > Bridgestone > Cooper=Uniroyal=Dunlop. • Application of a nylon belt cover appears to improve tread area rigidity and reduce tread shoulder distortion during aggressive maneuvers.

7. APPENDIX Exhibit 1-Photos of Figure 8 test tires Exhibit 2-Video of Figure 8 testing