These test methods describe techniques for assessing the performance characteristics of tires in a winter environment on snow and ice surfaces in a standardized manner. When only snow is referred to hereafter, it should be understood that ice is implied as appropriate.

A series of maneuvers are conducted to characterize several aspects of the tire performance in snow, since a single maneuver is not sufficient to characterize all aspects of a tire’performance.

1.1 These test methods cover the evaluation of tire performance on snow and ice surfaces utilizing passenger car or light truck vehicles. Since the tires are evaluated as part of a tire/vehicle system, the conclusions reached may not be applicable to the same tires tested on a different vehicle.

1.2 These test methods do not purport to identify every maneuver useful for determining tire performance in a winter environment.

1.3 These test methods are not meant to evaluate vehicle performance. Allowing for the variability of test results with different vehicles, these procedures have been developed and selected to evaluate relative tire-snow performance.

1.4 These test methods are suitable for research and development purposes, where tires are compared during a single series of tests. They may not be suitable for regulatory statutes or specification acceptance because the values obtained may not necessarily agree or correlate either in rank order or absolute traction performance level with those obtained under other environmental conditions on other surfaces or the same surface after additional use.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.