Discount Tire purchased the facility in 2022 and regularly tests more than 100 days a year at Treadwell Research Park. The retailer also rents Treadwell Research Park to tire manufacturers who desire to test on the world-class and expertly maintained surfaces and to groups interested in holding events. Discount Tire contracts Smithers, a global leader in testing services, to operate day-to-day activities at Treadwell Research Park.
Recent enhancements at the 900-acre Treadwell Research Park campus include:
- Upgrades to all 15 testing surfaces to exceed industry standards for texture and control variable consistency in tire testing. Testing is done on a variety of surfaces to help evaluate the tires’ performance across multiple driving conditions, including on-road, off-road, noise, bumps, wet, and dry.
- Implementation of an automated reverse osmosis water filtration system to deliver standardized water quality and accurate readings for wet handling tire testing and improved wet and mud off-road testing capabilities.
- Level 3 EV charging stations to power Discount Tire’s increased investments in tire testing for EV and hybrid vehicles.
- Construction of three new buildings ranging from 4,500 to 6,000 square feet to be occupied or rented by automotive brands seeking regular access to testing at Treadwell Research Park.
- Expert equipment, machinery, and tools, including an electric road sweeper, rolling resistance testing machine, and a tire buffer machine, which allows Discount Tire to shave tires down to standard worn conditions to compare functionality and safety across the life of a tire.
