Prediction of Driving Traction Performance on Snow

The amount of performance testing required to evaluate tire snow traction performance is substantial. This could be reduced through the use of a snow traction prediction equation to screen tire tread designs. The development of such an equation using five geometric tread properties is described. Simplified versions of this equation are also developed and checked against tires of known snow traction performance. These equations provide an objective method for estimating the snow traction potential of a tread design.