Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has opened a new testing facility at one of its main development bases for winter tyres, the Nayoro Tyre Proving Ground in Hokkaido. The Nayoro Indoor ICE Field or NICE is one of the largest indoor on-ice tyre testing facilities in Japan, featuring a 100 m braking test course as well as a 30x30m (approximate) turning test course.
This indoor facility, which is starting operations this January allows for high-precision on-ice testing regardless of the weather conditions, and further improves the performance of winter tyres and speed up the development process.
SRI now owns and operates three tyre proving grounds in Japan, including its Okayama tyre proving grounds, and the Asahikawa tyre proving ground.