Tread Wear Measurement

The Circumferential Tread Wear Imaging System (CTWIST) is a complete measurement system for characterizing tread wear in passenger and truck tires. CTWIST is used in tire development centers and test tracks to support new tire development programs.

A typical CTWIST test begins with a scan of a new tire, after a short warm-up period, to establish the base-line for tread wear. The tire is then driven on a roadway or test track for a distance (2,500 km for example) then re-scanned. The driving and scanning is repeated for a total of 10,000 or more km. The CTWIST analysis software processes all scans and produces a series of standard reports that characterize tread loss, irregular wear, heel-toe wear, tread-life projections, and other wear parameters.

This tread wear measurement information is used by compound development chemists, tread designers, and tire engineers to develop tire designs with better wear behavior.