Development of the SAE J1981 Road Hazard Impact Test for Wheel and Tire Assemblies

The SAE J175 Impact Test in its original and revised form was developed to simulate side impact on wheels under vehicle roll-over conditions. Wheel users and manufacture's have tried to use J175 test fixture, with 90 degree impact, to evaluate the performance of the rim during frontal pot hole or curb impacts. With drop mass so high and the velocity so low there has been poor correlation with actual field testing. A lower mass higher velocity impact test has been developed that effectively reproduces road hazard impact damage under controlled and reproducible conditions. This paper provides readers with the background information that led to the development of the new Road Hazard Impact Test - SAE Recommended Practice J1981.