ETRTO & JRC attend workshop on Euro 7 test methodology

This week, representatives from the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) participated in a two-day workshop on tyre abrasion at the DEKRA test centre in southern France.

The workshop provided an opportunity to observe the methodology approved by the UNECE Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) in action. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the driving conditions specified in the Euro 7 regulation.

The testing followed several steps:

• Test vehicle preparation: Various details were checked to minimise the vehicle’s impact on the test. Loaded dummies were placed in the passenger seats to simulate real-world loading conditions.
• Tyre fitting and balancing: This step involved positioning the tyres correctly on the vehicle and ensuring the required inflation pressure.
• Tyre measurement: The tyres were cleaned, weighed on a highly precise scale to assess weight loss post-test, and their tread depth and profile were measured using laser technology.
• Open road testing: Participants followed a convoy of four vehicles with standard tyres, using an independent vehicle. One vehicle was equipped with Standard Reference Test Tyres (SRTT), while the other three used candidate tyres for GRBP TFTA Market assessment. The testing occurred under real-life conditions, including typical traffic, speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering. Specific measurement devices monitored all driving conditions to ensure regulatory compliance. Regular stops for driver exchanges were conducted, exposing the tyres to various road and driving conditions.

Future testing & regulatory integration

Additional testing will be conducted over the coming months to collect abrasion data from a range of tyre sizes, patterns, and brands. This data will be instrumental in establishing tyre abrasion limits for passenger car tyres (C1 tyres), to be incorporated into UN Regulation No. 117 by September 2025.

The European tyre industry has significantly invested in this market assessment, and the proposal is set to become the reference methodology for the Euro 7 regulation within the European Union.