Designation: E 524 – 88 (Reapproved 2000)

Standard Specification for

Standard Smooth Tire for Pavement Skid-Resistance Tests1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 524; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope shoulder area to provide a rapid visual check as to whether the

1.1 This specification covers the general requirements for maximum wear level for testing has been reached. Tires should
the standard smooth tire for pavement testing. The tire covered actually be removed from service as recommended in 11.5. The
by this specification is intended for evaluation of tire-pavement marking on the tire, as suggested in Fig. 1, and curb ribs shall
friction. be molded on both sides of the tire.
1.2 The terminology in this specification is consistent with 3.4 Fig. 1 is a photograph of the standard tire and Fig. 2 is
Definitions E 867. a cross section of a typical tire.4
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4. Material Requirements
as the standard.
4.1 The compounding formulation for the tread portion of
2. Referenced Documents the tire is given in Table 1.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 4.2 Fabric—The fabric shall be polyester body or carcass
D 297 Test Methods for Rubber Products—Chemical plies and fiber glass belt plies.
Analysis2 NOTE 1—Certain proprietary products have been specified since exact
D 412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermo- duplication of properties of the finished tire may not be achieved with
plastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension2 other similar products. This inclusion does not in any way comprise a
D 1054 Test Method for Rubber Property Resilience Using recommendation for these proprietary products nor against similar prod-
a Rebound Pendulum2 ucts of other manufacturers, nor does it imply any superiority over any
such similar products.
D 1765 Classification System for Carbon Blacks Used in
Rubber Products2 5. Dimensions, Weights, and Permissible Variations
D 2240 Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer
5.1 General—Details of dimensions are listed as follows
Hardness2
and are shown in Fig. 2. When tolerances are not specified, tire
D 3182 Practice for Rubber—Materials, Equipment, and dimensions are subject to manufacturer’s normal tolerances.
Procedures for Mixing Standard Compounds and Prepar- 5.1.1 Design and Construction—The tire shall be a size
ing Standard Vulcanized Sheets2 G78-15 tubeless type, belted bias construction (two body plies
E 867 Terminology Relating to Traveled Surface Character- plus two belt plies). The tread width shall be 5.85 in. (148.6
istics3 mm) and the cross-sectional tread radius shall be 15.50 6 2.0
3. Materials and Manufacture in. (393.76 50.8 mm). The tread shall have a thickness of
0.385 in. (9.8 mm) and an under tread thickness of 0.10 in. (2.5
3.1 The individual standard tires shall conform to the design
mm). The tire shall have a recommended cross-section width
standards of Section 5. Dimensions, weights, and permissible
of 8.35 in. (212.1 mm) and a recommended section height of
variations are given in Section 5 and in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
6.34 in. (161.0 mm) when mounted on a Tire and Rim
3.2 Tread compounding, fabric processing, and all steps in
Association 15x6JJ rim. The cured crown angles shall be 33 6
tire manufacturing shall be certified to ensure that the specifi-
2° for the body plies, and 27 6 2° for the belt plies.
cations are met.
5.1.2 Wear Indicators—A visual wear guideline shall be
3.3 A small raised guideline shall be molded on the tire
located on the shoulder of the tire 0.22 in. (5.6 mm) from the
tread surface as shown in Fig. 2.
1
The specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E17 on
Vehicle-Pavement Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E17.24
on Tire and Slider Characteristics.
Current edition approved May 20, 1988. Published July 1988. Originally
published as E 524 – 75. Last previous edition E 524 – 82e1.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01. ASTM E524 tire is available from Specialty Tires of America, P.O. Box 749,
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03. 1600 Washington St., Indiana, PA 15701.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 E 524

FIG. 1 Test Tire

TABLE 1 Formulation of Oil Extended Styrene-Butadiene Blend

Rubber (SBR) Tread
Material Parts by Mass (Weight)
SBR 1712A 89.38
CB1252B 48.12
N347 Carbon BlackC 75.00
Highly aromatic oil 9.00
Zinc oxide 3.00
Stearic acid 2.00
Santoflex 13D 2.00
Paraffinic wax 2.00
Santocure NSE 1.10
D P GF 0.10
Sulfur 1.80
A
Styrene-butadiene rubber (23.5% styrene) 37.5 parts of high-aromatic oil.
B
Cis-poly butadiene with 37.5 parts of high-aromatic oil. (CB441 has been
determined to be equivalent.)
C
N347 Carbon Black, see D1765.
D
FIG. 2 Tire Section, Including Inflated Tire Dimensions Santoflex 13, dimethyl butylphenyl phenylenediamine.
E
Santocure NS, butyl benzothiozole sulfenamide.
F
DPG, diphenyl quanidine.
6. Workmanship
6.1 Tires shall be free of defects in workmanship and TABLE 2 Physical Requirements of Tread Compound
materials. Tensile sheet cure at 300°F (149°C), min 30
300 % modulus, psi (MPa) 800 6 200 (5.5 6 1.4)
Tensile sheet durometer 58 6 2
7. Physical Requirements Restored energy (rebound or resilience), % 46 6 2
7.1 The physical and mechanical test requirements are given Specific gravity 1.13 6 0.02
Tensile strength, min, psi (MPa) 2000 (13.8)
in Table 2. Elongation, min, % 500
Tire tread durometer 58 6 2
8. Test Methods
8.1 Tensile Sheet Cures—Practice D 3182.
8.2 Modulus (300 %)—Test Methods D 412. 8.8 Tire Tread Durometer—Test Method D 2240, in addi-
8.3 Tensile Sheet Durometer—Test Method D 2240, using a tion to the following procedures:
Type A Shore durometer. 8.8.1 Use a Type A durometer. (A 0.5-in. (12.7-mm) diam-
8.4 Restored Energy (Rebound or Resilience)—Test Method eter presser foot, Shore, Code XAHAF is recommended.)
D 1054. 8.8.2 The durometer shall be calibrated at a reading of 60
8.5 Specific Gravity—Methods D 297. hardness.
8.6 Tensile Strength—Test Methods D 412. 8.8.3 Condition the tire and durometer to equilibrium at
8.7 Elongation—Test Methods D 412. 73.4 6 3.6°F (23 6 2°C) before determining tread hardness.

2
 E 524
8.8.4 The tire tread hardness is to be determined by aver- 11. Recommendations for Tire Use and Operational
aging at least one set of 6 readings. A set should consist of Requirements
readings taken at equally spaced intervals across the tread. It is 11.1 The tire is for skid testing only and is not designed for
recommended that additional sets of readings be taken around general highway service. Necessary transporting of test equip-
the tread circumference. ment should be on commercial tires.
8.8.5 Apply presser foot to the tire tread as rapidly as 11.2 A new tire break in of 200 miles (320 km) min should
possible without shock, keeping the foot parallel to the tread be made on tires by the purchaser before using the tire for
surface. Apply just sufficient pressure to obtain firm contact testing.
between presser foot and tire tread surface. Read the durometer
11.3 The tire shall be operated with not less than 24 psi (165
scale within 1 s after presser foot is in contact with the tire
kPa) inflation.
tread, but after initial maximum transient which may occur
11.4 The recommended static test load on the tire shall be
immediately after contact is made.
1085 lbf (4826 N), with loading to a maximum of 1380 lbf
9. Certification (6138 N) permissible, at 24 psi (165 kPa) inflation.
9.1 Tires are to be inflated and measured prior to shipment. 11.5 When irregular wear or damage results from tests or
Upon request, the manufacturer shall furnish the purchaser when the tire is worn to the wear line, the use of the tire as a
certification that the test tire meets this specification. standard test tire shall be discontinued.
9.2 All tires under certification shall be subject to manufac- 11.6 Caution—Measured friction force and skid number
turer’s normal variation. (SN) may be influenced by tire tread hardness. The magnitude
of this dependence is a function of the water depth, pavement
10. Preservation characteristics, test speed, and tire aging effects.
10.1 Tires shall be kept dry under ordinary atmospheric
conditions in subdued light, 70 6 25°F (21 6 13.8°C). Tires 12. Keywords
should not be stored near electric motors, welders, or other 12.1 skid number; skid trailer; skid-resistance; smooth tire;
ozone generating equipment. tire-pavement friction; water depth

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