On Road Durability Testing

    Engineering concepts and theories will always remain just that until tested in real world conditions. This is especially true in the transportation industry, where it is critical that the design and performance of vehicles and their components be evaluated and verified through testing that duplicates conditions encountered in actual use. The Smithers Winter Test Center (SWTC) can fulfill an almost unlimited array of winter testing needs.

    Located in northern Michigan, SWTC is ideal for testing and conducting performance evaluations of vehicles, tires and components under the special challenges of extreme cold and hazardous road conditions.

    The facility is used by manufacturers and suppliers whose products include vehicles (ranging from small automobiles to Class 8 trucks), snow handling and construction equipment, recreational vehicles and military equipment. A sampling of component durability evaluations that have been conducted at SWTC includes:

    • Tires
    • Powertrains
    • Snow-ingestion testing
    • Heater/defrosters
    • Fuel systems
    • Antilock brakes
    • Cold-start testing
    • Power steering systems