MODIFYING MILITARY TIRES FOR IMPROVED WINTER TRACTION

As a continuation of previous collaborative efforts between several US Army organizations and industry leaders which led to the procurement of a National Stock Number (NSN) for a near commercial-off-the-shelf winter tire/wheel assembly for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), this study investigates a low-cost, postproduction modification known as ‘siping’ which may incrementally improve standard tires deployed on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) in cold regions. Data from engineering tests will quantify performance differences as well as driver feedback from the 11^th Airborne Division Soldiers in Alaska show moderate improvement from cutting razor-thin grooves known as ‘sipes’ on conventional winter tire sets. However, Army winter performance specifications developed in 2021 from HMMWV testing quantify greater available improvement to traction available, necessitating further development for winter traction in the JLTV family of tire sets as well as future procurements for additional Tactical Vehicles. Providing Soldiers with state-of-the-art winter tires which are effective at decreasing roll-over and other loss of control incidents increases safety and mobility in northern operations and is the objective of this research.

Citation: Witte, C., et al., “Modifying Military Tires for Improved Winter Traction,” In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS), NDIA, Novi, MI, Aug. 15-17, 2023.