American Automobile Manufacturers Association Heavy Truck Brake Tire Test

The objective of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Heavy Truck Brake Tire Test was to evaluate how different tires might effect a vehicle's performance when tested per the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (SAE) J1626 “Braking, Stability, and Control Performance Test Procedures for Air-Brake-Equipped Truck Tractors.”

During the summer of 1991, the Motor Vehicle Manufacturer's Association (MVMA), now known as the American Automobile Manufacturer's Association (AAMA), contracted Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) to perform a Heavy Truck Round Robin Brake Test to evaluate the practicality and repeatability of the ABS test procedure developed for the Motor Vehicle Safety Research Advisory Committee of NHTSA (SAE Paper 922484). One of the conclusions derived from that test program was that tires seem to play a more significant role than expected in vehicle braking performance. This was based on the fact that following the installation of a new set of tires of the same brand and type, the 60 mph dry high-mu stopping distance increased by nine percent, and the 30 mph wet low-mu stopping distance decreased by twenty percent. This led the AAMA to sponsor this test program to further determine the effect of tires on braking performance. The test approach and technical guidance for this program was provided by a task force of the SAE Vehicle Deceleration and Stability Subcommittee of the SAE Truck and Bus Total Vehicle Systems Committee.