Carefully engineered test roads help customers
absorb spring’s bumps
DETROIT – Spring hasn’t arrived, but the potholes have. While no one plans
to hit them, they are inevitable and in many cases unavoidable. More than an
uncomfortable nuisance, they can damage tires, wheels and suspension components.
Chevrolet helps combat the effects
of potholes by taking them head-on, testing vehicles such as Malibu and Silverado on carefully engineered roads within
the General Motors Milford Proving Ground that are laced with manufactured
potholes ranging from mildly annoying to chassis-rattling. The intentionally
poor road conditions help engineers thwart the bumps a vehicle takes and tune
suspensions to minimize discomfort to passengers.
“We have a
wide variety of road surfaces that simulate real-world road conditions around
the globe,” said Frank Barhorst, who supervises the Product Usage Measurements
and Applications group at the Proving Ground near Detroit. “The range of test road
surfaces goes from good to bad, so that we can find the most balanced condition
for each vehicle we develop – and believe me, we’ve created some of the worst
potholes you’ve ever seen.”
Potholes are most prevalent in the
spring because the moisture in the small holes and cracks in the road during
the winter alternates between freezing and thawing as temperatures change,
causing expansion and contraction of the road surface. Then, the pavement breaks
up under the weight of normal vehicle traffic.
One of the major reasons vehicles
sustain damage when they hit a pothole is because load is not transferred
properly. The engineered potholes at Milford help experts re-create load
conditions that occur when a vehicle hits one on a non-controlled surface. GM
has collected that data for the past 40 years, using it to design and engineer
new vehicles better able to absorb pothole abuse.
The extreme durability tests extend
beyond pothole-cratered pavement and includes terrain such as construction sites
and off-road-driving environments for Chevy’s trucks and SUVs.
“Every Chevrolet built globally
goes through this type of testing. And we design our vehicles to absorb the
load when they hit a pothole,” said Barhorst. “The data we collect on our test
course helps us to integrate loads between interconnecting parts, and capture
and fix potential problems as we design Chevrolets.”
While no technology will help
drivers avoid every pothole, Chevrolet models share traits – such as robust
body structures – that reduce vibrations generated by sudden, harsh impacts.
The strong body structures also enable engineers to tune the suspensions more
precisely, for smoother, more controlled driving experiences that help mitigate
the effects of smaller and moderate potholes.
Chassis and suspension updates
inspired by the all-new 2014 Impala also contribute to the a dynamic driving
experience in the 2014 Malibu, including rebound springs in the struts on
2.5L-equipped models. More refined calibration of the dampers results in a
smoother overall ride and improves body roll control and weight transfer during
acceleration or turning. That helps keep the wheels planted, contributing to a
more precise, controlled feel – especially while cornering.
Tire
and wheel design and construction also play a vital role in managing potholes. GM
engineers its tire technology specifications with an eye toward fuel economy,
quietness, tread wear, braking distances and the ability to withstand potholes.
“On
the wheel side, we’ve developed a premium process for flow-formed rims,” said
Dave Cowger, GM Tire & Wheel Systems Engineering. “On the tire side, we’ve
made improvements to the body side including the cords in the tires, which make
the tires stronger and allow the vehicle to withstand impact better.”
The team that engineered the new Silverado
went to extremes to ensure it would exceed the demands of truck customers. GM’s
new full-size trucks underwent more than 6 million miles of durability testing
at Milford, over the deserts and mountains of Nevada and across the frozen
flats of Kapuskasing, Ontario. That’s equivalent to 240 trips around the earth.
In addition, the trucks accumulated more than 7 million real-world miles during
final testing, bringing total test miles to more than 13 million.
Chevrolet Certified Service offers
these tips for avoiding and managing potholes:
- Always inflate tires to the number on the tire inflation placard on the inside of the driver’s door opening
- Tire inflation should be checked cold, before driving
- Each 10-degree F change in ambient temperature changes the effective inflation pressure by 1 pound. This means during the course of a winter day going from 40 degrees F at noon to 0 degrees F at night, tire pressure can drop 4 pounds, enough to affect its ability to resist pothole damage
- Use winter-rated tires
- Watch for street hazards
- Remember that dirty headlamps and worn wipers hamper visibility
- If you hit a pothole, visibly check your wheel and tire for obvious damage and have your Chevrolet dealer check to see if the vehicle needs a re-alignment or if there is suspension damage.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's
largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more
than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with
fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design
and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
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