A Look Inside Bridgestone's Tyre Testing 'Kitchen' in Thailand
Pathum Thani, Thailand — Before tyres are marketed and used, there is a lengthy production process designed not only with aesthetics in mind but also with key variables such as comfort and safety. This is inseparable from the tyres role as the sole vehicle component that comes into direct contact with the road. Therefore, before marketing, a number of testing processes are conducted by manufacturers.
During a media tour of Bridgestone Asia Pacific India and China (BSAPIC), I and several media colleagues from other countries had the opportunity to observe the testing process at Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center in Pathum Thani, Thailand.
“Through this facility, Bridgestone ensures every tyre developed and manufactured is thoroughly tested to international standards. Our commitment is to deliver products that are safe, durable and efficient for consumers worldwide,” said Shinsuke Nakamura, Tire Development Director Bridgestone Asia Pacific (Thailand) Co., Ltd., when met in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on Thursday 5 March 2026.
The testing begins with a specialised machine that blends tyre materials with precise control of temperature, time and pressure to produce a material in the form of the rubber compound known as the unhealed compound.
Next, the material and cure sheets are placed into a mould and processed in a curing machine that enables identification of the correct curing temperature and time according to the type of compound.
For example, small samples are cut to be placed into a scattering machine to analyse the distribution of carbon black or silica in the compound used as the formula for a tyre.
This machine measures the tyre’s static deflection. Its function is akin to a spring and is directly linked to the componentry and the tyre’s vertical performance.
The tyre’s static deflection is tested from various directions: vertical, lateral, longitudinal (forward–back), and torsional, applicable to passenger car tyres as well as trucks and buses.
In this test, the tyre is loaded and rolled to measure wear. Each engineer also has samples for mechanical property tests, including tensile testing with dumbbell-shaped samples to assess material strength in each sector of the tyre.
Moreover, endurance testing of tyres against extreme road conditions is conducted via footprint tests and pinch hump tests. These two test methods are used to illustrate pressure distribution and deformation that occur. In the pinch hump test, the tyre is pressed to measure energy penetration into the inner construction layers.