1. Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd
Uvalde, TX Operations

2. – Laredo Proving Grounds (LPG) - History
1983 Juan Lopez begins work at B.F. Goodrich proving grounds in Pecos, TX at their
electronics/traction department.
1986 Uniroyal and B F Goodrich merge into UGTC
Juan is promoted and transferred to Laredo, TX to manage the Laredo Traction Facility.
1990 Michelin buys UGTC.
1994 Michelin decides to shut down all Laredo operations except Laredo Traction Facility.
During the shutdown Juan and Sylvia Lopez approach Michelin to consider an employee take over
of the Laredo Traction Facility. After several rounds of negotiations Michelin subleases the
Laredo Traction Facility and sells to LPG one braking traction system and all support equipment.
LPG continues operations at Laredo, TX until Michelin’s lease expires in 2004.
2005 LPG moves testing operations to Uvalde Proving Grounds Uvalde, TX.
LPG is in its 6th year of operations at Uvalde (Continental North America).
In addition to Uvalde LPG has an excellent business relationship
with TVTC (Cooper) Proving Grounds at Pearsall, TX.
LPG has just completed 17 years of providing its customers with:
Traction, Hydroplane and recently vehicle tire handling tests.
Juan Lopez along with the highly experienced staff of Laredo Proving Grounds
Are committed to providing customers with the best service.
All of us at Laredo Proving Grounds are grateful for the business and trust our
customers have placed upon us throughout the years.
Juan M Lopez

3. -Services / Tests GM Braking Traction GMW 15208 ECE Regulation 117
Wet Grip using skid trailer
Pass by noise testing
FORD
Braking Traction
Wet & Dry
Rim Roll Off
Tire Retention
NHTSA - DOT
UTQG Braking Traction
HYDROPLANE
Straight ahead spin down using skid trailer
Lateral Hydroplane using full size vehicles
TIRE HANDLING
Wet & Dry Max Handling
Subjective Ride Quality & Interior Noise Evaluation
Wet & Dry Stopping Distance
EQUIPMENT
Manufacturing of skid tester for tires

4. – Staff / Experience Juan M Lopez – Operations Manager
Uniroyal Goodrich 1983 – 1989
Michelin 1989 – 1994
Laredo Proving Grounds 1994 – Present
Wolfgang Lerke – Traction Manager
Volkswagen
Mercedes Benz
Laredo Proving Grounds 1999 – Present
Victor Flores – Administration
Uniroyal Goodrich 1964 – 1990
Michelin 1990 – 1993
Laredo Proving Grounds 2004 – Present
Juan C Lopez – Tire Tech
Laredo Proving Grounds 2006 – Present
Richard Sais – Traction Tech - Trainee
Laredo Proving Grounds 2012 – Present
David Chapa – IT / Data Analyst
Laredo Proving Grounds – Present
Edward Young – Mechanic / Tire Tech
Laredo Proving Grounds 2010 – Present
Brandon Rendo – Traction Tech - Trainee
Roy Pena – Traction Tech - Trainee

5. Uvalde Proving Grounds - Arial View

6. Vehicle Dynamics- Tire Handling Test Description
Wet handling - testing consists of subjective data from driving at the maximum capable speed on wet VDA including traction characteristics lateral, braking, acceleration, Understeer / Oversteer), response (turn-in & stability), and various other stability and hydroplane dynamics. Lap times are also collected and noted on each handling sheet. ASTM surface normalization is included in the post processing. Driver comments are also included that will define any other differences if found from baseline type tests.
Dry handling - testing consists of subjective data from driving at the maximum capable speed on Dry Handling Road Course including traction characteristics (lateral, braking, acceleration, Understeer / Oversteer), response (turn-in & stability), and various other stability and balance dynamics. Lap times are also collected and noted on each handling sheet. ASTM surface normalization is included in the post processing. Driver comments are also included that will define any other differences if found from baseline type tests.
Subjective Ride Quality & Interior Noise Evaluation - Ride Evaluation Course this testing collects subjective data including ride quality evaluations such as ride harshness, damping, smoothness, etc. Testing also includes subjective interior noise collection of tread pattern noise, texture noise differences, tone, pitch, etc. Testing these parameters consists of driving around the oval course, as well as off-site locations that include real world situations such as potholes, broken pavement, bumps, and uneven surfaces.

7. Vehicle Dynamics - Wet Handling Pad
North America's largest at fifteen acres in size, the wet handling pad is an impressive 800 ft x 800 ft square asphalt pad which can be made wet over its entire surface to accommodate many test course configurations marked by traffic cones.
The pad appears level and flat, but has a slight one-percent grade over the 800 feet. This allows water from the perforated pipe at the top of the pad to flow in controllable amounts (from .05" to .11") over the surface.
Two asphalt approaches add to the flexibility of the testing available on this test pad, with the vehicle speeds dependent upon the course configuration.

8. Vehicle Dynamics – GM Wet Test Course

9. Vehicle Dynamics - Dry Handling Road Course
The dry road course portion is a 1.07 mi (1.72 km) asphalt course, featuring a 1,200 ft (366 m) long straightaway, curves, turns, and bends of various radii.
Tires are tested for dry handling performance to evaluate varying designs and constructions.
Vehicle construction and component evaluations are conducted on this course.

10. Vehicle Dynamics - Dry Handling Road Course

11. Vehicle Dynamics - Ride Evaluation Course - Description
This three-mile paved course is a multi-lane track with three- and four-lane straight away and two-lane curves.
Various surfaces and impacts are incorporated to evaluate ride comfort, impact dampening, transmission, and tire noise as well as vehicle construction, durability and automotive component testing.
Additionally, objective pass-by noise is measured on the new ISO noise course.
Nearly level, this three-mile oval track has 1,432 ft (436 m) radius curves and 3,420 ft (1042 m) straight away

12. Vehicle Dynamics Ride Evaluation Course - Layout

13. Traction Test Facility Designed to meet strict auto manufacturing standards and changing customer needs, this facility features a number of lanes, surfaces, and speed ranges for evaluating tire and vehicle traction performance.
Wet Skid Testing
This 900 ft (274 m) test area has two different surfaces for measuring the skid characteristics of different tires. One asphalt test lane and one concrete test lane offer a range of conditions similar to that of the consumer. The water on these surfaces is controlled to test under normal conditions but can be altered to accommodate a range of water depths.
Dry Skid Testing
Designed for optional use as dry test skid areas, approaches to the wet test lanes are 2,000 ft (610 m) long and up to 100 ft (30 m) wide.
Hydroplaning
Straight ahead test course is 250 ft (76 m) in length and typically has water depth of .375" (9.5mm). Speeds are gradually increased to determine the point of hydroplaning of the given test tire.
Lateral course is 100 m diameter circle and typically has water depth of .375" (9.5mm). Speeds are gradually increased to determine the point of hydroplaning on a set of test tires.

14. Traction Test Facility

15. Traction Test - Traction Rig - #1

16. Traction Test - Traction Rig - #3

17. Traction Test - Traction Rig - #2

18. Uvalde Proving Grounds Facts – Main Track 13.7km – Area 2023 ha

19. UTQG - San Angelo, TX - Shop

20. Laredo Proving Grounds -Contact Information
Laredo, TX
Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd.
611 Shiloh Dr, Suite 10
Laredo, TX 78045
Tel (956)
Fax (956)
Uvalde, TX
@ Uvalde Proving Grounds
FM 117 Batesville Road
Uvalde, TX 78802
Tel (956)
Juan M Lopez
Wolfgang Lerke
Tel (956)

21. – 2010 Highlights-Outlook
2010
Added Regulation 117 Wet Grip testing using skid trailer
Added UTQG TRACTION San Angelo, TX
Added Regulation 117 pass by noise testing
Added lateral hydroplane testing using full size vehicles
Leased additional bay from Continental
Hired Gary Welch Jr.
Completed and delivered GM 4K system
Built and sold 1 traction trailer to GM (YPG-Yuma, AZ)
Successfully participated in GM supplier braking traction correlation
Continental designates new dry skid pad
GM adopts short slide skid for dry testing
Short slide will cut down on rubber deposit to test surface

22. – 2012 Highlights
Successfully participated in GM supplier braking traction correlation
Built and sold 1 traction trailer
Traction
Completed traction trailer to be used for UTQG / Reg. 117 traction system
Hired Jessica Clifton – Data Processing / Office Manager
Hired Rick Sais – Trainee
Hired Hector Ortiz – Quality/Safety
Hired Brandon Rendon – Trainee
Hired Agustin Carrizales – UTQG manager
UTQG Tread Wear
July 2012 begin treadwear operations
Software
Tailored software for GM-OE data file format
Tailored software for UTQG customer data file format
Equipment/Facility Bays
Bought warehouse for Uvalde HQ office May 2012
Leased 5000 sq ft building for UTQG treadwear and traction operations
Purchased Mini VBox for tire evaluations
Purchased 5 additional Ford Ranger trucks – UTQG Treadwear
Purchased Chevrolet C2500 UTQG treadwear
Purchased Chevrolet C2500 future traction system
Built additional tire/wheel racks
Purchased over 50 new wheels