Tested Beyond
The Limits
Here at Davanti Tyres, we combine expert engineering, advanced manufacturing processes, extensive testing and progressive development. We put tyres through rigorous testing regimes to ensure they deliver safe and predictable handling and a comfortable drive. Our tyres allow the driver to get the most out of their vehicle’s performance capabilities, delivering excellent value for money.
Peter Cross
Davanti Tyres General Manager
40+ Testing Disciplines
All Davanti tyres are put through a rigorous testing and development regime. Learn more about our testing disciplines below, or select a tyre to see which tests it has been subjected to.
Dry Braking
Dry Braking
Drivers don’t practice emergency stops – when you need to perform one you need to know that your car will halt in a safe and composed manner.
A dry braking test consists of driving a vehicle at high speed, then applying the brakes.
The distance covered by the car when coming to a complete stop is measured by ultra-precise GPS equipment.
Wet Braking
Wet Braking
Stopping quickly, smoothly and safely on rain-soaked roads with little traction is a vital safety feature of tyres.
A wet braking test consists of driving the vehicle at high speed and then applying brakes.
The distance covered by the car when coming to a complete stop is measured by ultra-precise GPS equipment.
Dry Handling
Dry Handling
Dry handling performance should exceed all normal driving requirements.
In our testing we grade performance parameters across four categories:
- Ride
- Steering
- Stability
- Noise
Tests are conducted both at high speed – pushing the tyres beyond the limit of their grip – and also at typical driving speeds over a range of controlled surfaces and bumps. Dry handling is not all about high speed performance. Top lap times are not relevant on dry roads. Tyres should provide safety reserves when taken to their limit and their road performance should be effortless and predictable since this helps a driver to relax and avoid driving errors. For this purpose, the test driver evaluates the reaction to steering input and cornering as well as rear axle stability. They look for how tyres react to changes in direction and pace, the amount of steering lock required and for any loss of grip to be progressive.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling
Wet roads bring most drivers as close as they will ever get to the limit of their tyres’ capability. The drastic reduction of natural surface grip caused by rainfall can expose significant performance differences between tyres.
Wet handling testing consist of both objective and subjective tests.
The objective test parameter measured is the time taken for a high-speed lap of a wet handling circuit. This is a broad ranging test that takes into account a number of tyre performance attributes, such as the tyre’s ability to transfer the car’s power to the road, and ultimately the amount of control the driver has. The subjective test goes beyond the lap time to give a greater insight into the tyre’s performance. The test driver applies a rating to a number of parameters, based on their knowledge and experience. They are focusing on driver experience – looking for safe, predictable handling, and effortless road performance.
Longitudinal Aquaplaning
Longitudinal Aquaplaning
Aquaplaning (or hydroplaning) is where water gets between the tyre surface and the road. Tyre tread should disperse water to prevent this.
The speed at which a tyre is deemed to be fully aquaplaning is when the front driven wheel speed is 15% faster than the speed the vehicle is actually travelling
The higher the speed achieved before full aquaplaning is reached, the better the tyre is at preventing the phenomenon. Davanti’s testing process creates the conditions for aquaplaning to engineer tread patterns that break up the surface of the water and drive it away from the contact area more effectively.
Dry Stability
Dry Stability
Dry road condition stability should exceed all normal driving requirements.
On a demanding dry handling track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Roll control
- Yaw stability
- Lateral grip
- Lateral stiffness
- Throttle lift-off
- Straight line stability
Dry Steering
Dry Steering
Dry road condition steering feel and response should exceed all normal driving requirements.
On a demanding dry handling track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Driving effort
- On-centre feel
- Steering response
- Linearity
Wet Circle
Wet Circle
Confidence when steering in wet conditions is integral to the performance of all Davanti tyres.
The vehicle is driven on a wet asphalt circle with constant steering angle applied, thus maintaining a consistent diameter.
The vehicle is accelerated up to a speed at which grip is lost, with the lap time at this speed measured by data logging equipment.
Ice Stability
Ice Stability
Icy road condition stability should exceed all normal driving requirements.
On a demanding dry handling track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Controllability at limit
- Power on/off cornering
- Transient stability
- Brake-in-turn
- Braking stability
Ice Steering
Ice Steering
Icy road condition steering feel and response should exceed all normal driving requirements.
On a demanding dry handling track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Feel/weight (on centre)
- Feel/weight (off centre)
- Response (on centre)
- Response (off centre)
- Linearity
Ice Braking
Ice Braking
Ice braking is difficult due to the lack of friction. Winter tyres should be formulated to remain soft in icy conditions and to react with the icy surface to minimise stopping distances.
Preventing that dreaded moment when you hit the brakes on ice and the vehicle just starts to slide is a key expectation of winter tyres.
Ice traction is tested by measuring the time taken to accelerate to a predetermined speed. The ice braking test measures the distance covered when slowing from this speed to a stop. These tests are carried out on a carefully prepared and controlled brushed ice surface.
Ice Acceleration
Ice Acceleration
The ability to obtain traction for acceleration is of paramount importance to all Davanti winter tyres.
The vehicle is driven from a standing start up to 20 km/h. Data logging equipment measures the time taken for the vehicle to accelerate from 5 to 20 km/h.
Ice Handling
Ice Handling
Ice handling is another critical role of winter tyres. Maintaining cornering grip during forward motion as weight shifts on a surface with no grip means you need your tyres to work even harder.
We test ice handling at the 1,300 metre track at Ivalo in the Arctic Circle.
A fast and flowing series of tightening ice turns and hairpins really tests the tyres. All are negotiated with any electronic driver aids disabled – ensuring the only things keeping the vehicle on-track are the driver and the tyres. The track is graded between runs and the result decided by an average of lap times.
Snow Stability
Snow Stability
Stable, reliable and reassuring handling is an important characteristic we strive for with all Davanti winter tyres.
On a hard packed snow track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Controllability at limit
- Power on/off cornering
- Transient stability
- Brake-in-turn
- Braking stability
Snow Steering
Snow Steering
Confident and precise steering, with a pleasant feel, is of vital importance to all drivers of Davanti winter tyres.
On a hard packed snow track, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Feel/weight (on centre)
- Feel/weight (off centre)
- Response (on centre)
- Response (off centre)
- Linearity
Snow Braking
Snow Braking
Possibly the most important feature of a winter tyre – the ability to come to a controlled halt in low-friction conditions.
The vehicle is driven onto a medium-packed snow surface at a steady 45 km/h.
The brakes are applied and sophisticated data logging equipment measures the distance covered between 40 and 5 km/h.
Snow Acceleration
Snow Acceleration
The ability to obtain traction for acceleration is of paramount importance to all Davanti winter tyres.
The vehicle is driven from a standing start up to 40 km/h.
Snow Handling
Snow Handling
The unique characteristics of snow make it one of the most challenging surfaces for tyres. They need to maintain forward and cornering traction and plough snow away from the contact area without the tread becoming clogged.
Snow handling is tested on UTAC’s demanding Alpine Circuit.
Featuring tight hairpins, long straights, steep elevation changes and off-camber corners, this facility goes far beyond the typical conditions encountered by most motorists. Our testing consists of repeated timed runs on this track, to ensure the performance of our tyres consistently and reliably meets and exceeds the performance requirements of drivers on snow-covered roads.
Sand Traction
Sand Traction
Reliable traction on loose surfaces is a vital component of the performance characteristics of all-terrain tyres.
Sand traction is evaluated in two ways:
- Using a sand hill, the maximum achievable distance the vehicle can reach is measured.
- Using a sand hill, the minimum achievable time for the vehicle to reach the top is measured.
Off-Road Stability
Off-Road Stability
On loose surfaces, vehicle stability is essential. As the only part of the vehicle in contact with the ground, the tyre has a significant influence on the stability.
On a grass and mud off-road circuit, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Controllability at limit
- Power on/off cornering
- Transient stability
- Brake-in-turn
- Braking stability
Off-Road Steering
Off-Road Steering
Confident and precise steering, with a pleasant feel, is of vital importance to all drivers of Davanti off-road.
On a grass and mud off-road circuit, the tyre is rated on the following characteristics:
- Feel/weight (on centre)
- Feel/weight (off centre)
- Response (on centre)
- Linearity
Gravel Braking
Gravel Braking
Possibly the most important feature of a tyre – the ability to come to a controlled halt in low-friction conditions.
On a hard-packed gravel surface, the brakes are applied and the distance covered whilst braking from 50 to 0 km/h is measured.
Grass Traction
Grass Traction
A common, but surprisingly tricky situation. Traction on the low-friction surface of wet grass, especially while towing, is essential for off-road tyres.
On a cut grass surface, the vehicle is driven from a standing start up to 40 km/h while towing a weighted trailer. Data logging equipment measures the distance the vehicle requires to accelerate from 0 to 40 km/h.
Off-Road Handling
Off-Road Handling
Conquering difficult terrain in a timely and comfortable manner – the mark of a great all-terrain tyre.
On a grass and mud off-road circuit, the fastest lap time achievable by the tyre is measured using data logging equipment.
Mileage
Mileage
Driving performance – as important as it is – means little without the ability to maximise driving range and tyre lifespan mile after mile to deliver real value for money.
Tyres are tested on vehicles, driving on real roads.
A minimum of 20,000km is covered per set, and tread wear is measured at regular intervals to evaluate wear rates throughout the life of the tyre tread.
5 Innovative Testing Locations
Spain
Applus+ IDIADA
Applus+ IDIADA offers design, testing, engineering, and homologation services to the automotive industry worldwide.
An international team of more than 2,450 engineers and technical experts ensure that all testing at its sites are completed and recorded to a high standard.
Davanti uses its first-class facilities at Tarragona near Barcelona – the most comprehensive summer tyre proving ground in Europe – to test tyres and tyre concepts.
Finland
UTAC, Finland
Based in Lapland, within the Arctic Circle, Utac is the leading global centre for preparing snow and ice tracks for repeatable testing for tyre development and approval tests.
Its Airport proving ground in Ivalo is a large area providing a variety of different challenges to measure tyre performance.
The layout of the facility can be altered to cater for a range of challenging handling tracks, testing anything from the smallest of passenger car tyres to the largest on-highway vehicles.
United Kingdom
HORIBA MIRA
The test selection is wide, including all the essential summer and winter tyre tests that Davanti employ.
They test vehicles on purpose-built snow tracks offering a long operational season, wide run-off for safety, and unbeatable surface quality.
Customers benefit from the availability of service buildings nearby, from a wide range of accommodation and hospitality options, and from UTAC’s legendary customer service.
United Kingdom
UTAC, UK
UTAC, UK provides vehicle and tyre test services to the automotive, transport, petrochemical and defence industries. It is independent and impartial in everything it does and has a range of test facilities for full vehicles, tyres and components.
The UTAC UK proving ground was purpose-built as a test facility for passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles.
The on-road tracks include the famous Millbrook Hill Route, which simulates challenging European roads, the High Speed Circuit and numerous special surfaces ideal for testing the limits of off-road and all-terrain tyres.
Portugal
Autódromo
In addition to a race track available 24/7, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA) provides a full-service test platform covering every aspect of car and bike testing. AIA was designed to push every type of tyre to the limit.
A modern rain simulation system has been incorporated into the circuit for testing all aspects of performance and tyre usage, setting the track apart from other circuits.
Portimão Circuit is one of the few circuits within Europe to have this advanced system, which operates by means of an asphalt watering system controlled automatically by a modern software system that allows varying amounts of water to be injected onto the track.
