Smithers is proud to manage an 898-acre proving ground for tire and vehicle dynamics, just fifty miles southwest of San Antonio, Texas. First established in 1999, the test facility has evolved over the years to offer a wide range of test surfaces, from rigorous off-road test courses to customizable vehicle dynamics areas (VDAs) and noise assessment lanes.
The proving ground is equipped for subjective and objective testing of:
Acceleration
Durability
Lane change
Lap time
Limit handling
Longitudinal and curved hydroplane
Noise and Vibration
Pass-by noise
Ride evaluations
Skid pad
Steering and steering response
Traction
Wet and dry braking
Wet handling
All tire test surfaces are oriented around a centralized building complex with office space, meeting rooms, a storage area, and garage bays.
The track’s south Texas location boasts an ideal climate for warm weather testing. South Texas has consistent weather and gets minimal rain, maximizing the number of quality test days every year. In addition to hot dry conditions during the summer, spring, fall, and even winter can provide some testing advantages. The region’s single-day temperature fluctuations during winter, fall, and spring —often below 50°F in the mornings and up to 75°F or 80°F later in the day—allows for on-site clients to conduct two or more types of testing in a single day, a luxury that doesn’t exist in other climates.
The track is in compliance with :
UNECE Regulation No 117 wet grip and Pass-by-Noise testing
SAE J3300 Driving Level and J3300/1 Low-Mu
Additionally, the track’s wet vehicle dynamics area (VDA) is one of the only SAE J3300-1 low mu test areas in the world that’s not a snow or ice surface.
Strategic layout for convenient testing
Unlike many proving grounds, this warm weather track has a unique compact design. Our three main on-road test surfaces are less than a tenth of a mile from the garage, increasing test efficiency by reducing time spent traveling from point to point between test runs. Short drive times allow Drivers to get off the surface and into the garage quickly for tire changes and recording pertinent test data.
On-site test vehicle fleet and instrumentation
Our on-site fleet of testing vehicles is available for rental use, and we’re dedicated to making test driving as convenient as possible for you. We’ll drive your rental vehicle directly to your work area so your team can get to work right away, or we can provide a driver to support your testing efforts.
Our test vehicle fleet fit a wide range of tire and wheel sizes making them highly conducive to testing tires for various driving scenarios.
2022 Toyota GR86
2022 Toyota Camry
2022 Ford F-250
2022 Ford F-150
2022 BMW 330i
2021 Tesla Model 3
2019 Kia Sorento
In addition to our robust rental fleet, we also offer engineering services and a comprehensive instrumentation bay. Our on-site experts can help you design a test procedure and instrument your vehicle to gather the exact data you need to achieve your product development goals.
Tire & Vehicle Dynamics Testing
With years of experience in automotive and tire development and validation, Smithers is proud to offer unmatched support in the area of tire and vehicle dynamics testing. Our expert team at the tire proving ground in Texas can provide the support, convenience, and consistent test conditions you need to collect accurate data and support your business goals. You can expect carefully maintained testing surfaces and comfortable garage and office facilities, as well as an on-site mechanic and event space for meetings and demos.
To schedule a project at the track, speak to Sean Connolly.
