Vittoria’s manufacturing company Lion Tyres Thailand has opened its recently completed state-of-the-art bicycle tyre/wheel test centre at the rubber compound factory and R&D complex, at Rayong Industrial Estate in Thailand. After the company’s innovation with graphene, for improved rolling resistance, and a unique extruder, capable of producing 4 different compounds (4C) for bicycle tyre treads, Vittoria adds that it is now able to ‘test its innovative products with scientific precision to ensure perfection under any circumstances’.
The significantly upgraded and expanded test facility allows Vittoria to simulate conditions related to all climate and weather conditions, to test the soundness of construction and durability, wet and dry grip, as well as extreme forced failure scenarios. In addition, the added test abilities allow detailed wheel analysis and will further the development of Vittoria’s Perfect Match (wheel and tyre bead optimization).
The commissioning of the extensive test equipment is seen as the final step for Vittoria to take innovation and product development to the ‘absolute top of developing the abilities and insight required, to offer the best-performing tyres in the world’.
Shareholder Jan van Waas and Vittoria Chairman Rudie Campagne visited Rayong on 15 February 2017 to officially open the extensive new test facilities. After 2.5 years of preparation and work, a release from Vittoria adds that ‘the major capital investment creates a one-of-a-kind scientific test laboratory for bicycle tyres as well as wheels and has started its operations.’
Vittoria notes that Traditionally, test riders play a big part in product development and testing. Although these contributions are valuable, the results may be hard to quantify with required precision and are not always consistent. The Vittoria bicycle tyre/wheel test centre offers ‘100% precise and comparable tests from perfectly calibrated computer-controlled equipment, which will significantly increase the product development speed as well as its accuracy.’
With a heritage in road racing, Vittoria has always valued rolling resistance tests. With the updated custom test equipment, it is now possible to understand the relationship between rolling resistance and temperatures. Furthermore, Vittoria can now fine-tune the compounds to reach optimal rolling resistance at the desired speed in the climate of a targeted region.
The new facility enables climate-related development of rubber compounds, by simulation of different temperatures, ambient air humidity, UV and ozone exposure. This is seen as yet another area for compound development allowing for more measurable and predictable performance.
The equipment for grip testing can also combine different variables. By altering the level of wetness at the surface, the lean angle and the loading, new insights will be gained in terms of compound placement as well as grip levels relevant for each area. An improvement has been made in testing the durability of tyre tread as well as side walls.
Finally… ‘scientific precision is also added to Vittoria’s unique cotton tubeless tyre development by monitoring precise air retention per hour with variable air pressures.’
The usage of 4C technology (4 compounds) has been a leap forward in MTB tyre development, especially in combination with graphene. 4C allows Vittoria to combine purpose-developed compounds for very specific and precise functional areas in the tyres. The new test facilities include multiple compound-tread separation testing, both in the knobs of tyres and in between. This ensures that the multiple compounds are bonded together in all usage scenarios. The supplementing wear resistance tests offer another dimension of durability insights, which bolsters the quality of Vittoria’s off-road range and should allow for further improvements in the future.
Vittoria Industries is an international group that acquired the premium tubular tyres producer Vittoria Spa in 1990. Today, Vittoria Industries is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bicycle tyres with an annual production of approximately 7 million tyres and 900,000 high performance tubulars and cotton tyres.
Vittoria’s worldwide commercial operations are shared among three distinct regions: Vittoria SpA is responsible for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMEA & LATAM). Vittoria Industries North America is responsible for North America. Vittoria Asia Pacific is responsible for Asia-Pacific region. The group holding company, Vittoria Industries, carries out manufacturing and R&D at its fully owned Lion Tyres Thailand factory in Bangkok.
