The agenda includes discussion of status of the work plan 2026 including the ITTAC proposal on tyre abrasion Convoy Method -Dual-Normalisation Framework (TA-45-08/Rev.1) and UTAC Tyre abrasion timeline Gantt (TA-46-03/Rev.1), development of the C1 tyre mileage potential metric and tread depth measurement prescription, and test method development status under C2 and C3.

TA-48-02 updates TA-47-02. C2 tyre abrasion rate index vehicle method uses a convoy of up to 4 vehicles with single tyres, GVW up to 3.5T, FWD, loaded 60%–74% of tyre nominal load with 50/50 front/rear distribution. Test distance is 10000 km at 80% nominal pressure. Reference tyres use 2 sets of test runs with C2 candidate SRTT and existing C1 SRTTs. 2025 testing in 235/65R16C and 205/65R16C sizes showed C2 tyres sensitivity to temperature similar to C1 tyres. 2026 plan repeats and extends 2025 testing to confirm reference tyres strategy, assess temperature sensitivity and pressure impact, and define validation plan.

The document presents a European heavy-duty vehicle and tyre market overview and C3 test method development status. The C3 tyre market is complex and diversified, with applications including long haul, regional, on/off road, winter, and urban use. A test concept has been developed focusing on road usage with 22.5" tyres, using convoys of up to four vehicles with defined acceleration standards, road distribution of 60% motorway and 40% regional roads, and tests per axle comparing candidate tyres to reference tyres. Current activities include assessment of reference tyres strategy, temperature sensitivity evaluation, and confirmation of test parameters for heavy trucks in N₃/O₃ configuration, with tests reaching 30,000 to 45,000 kilometres.

ETRTO proposed three ways to estimate service life (TA-36-04): tread depth measurements, initial tread depth and abrasion index, and tread mass. JRC presented a service life index (TA-32-04) based on tread depth measurements and conducted a preliminary assessment of the second concept. Service life is estimated by linear extrapolation to 1.6 mm from tread measurements at test start and end. The Service life index is calculated as the ratio of candidate to reference tyre service life. Next steps include confirming the equation for service life via tyre characteristics and clarifying which tyre characteristics are needed.

DEKRA Test Center examined whether vehicles fitted with SRTT impact tyre abrasion rates. Tests DEKRA #104 and DEKRA #41 compared SRTT Summer as candidate against SRTT Winter as reference, with abrasion indices of 1.18 and 1.19 respectively, showing no vehicle impact. Tests DEKRA 8 and DEKRA 9 showed abrasion rates of 45.1 mg/km/T and 45.0 mg/km/T respectively with no difference despite different vehicles. A 2024 convoy test with two Golf vehicles fitted with identical SRTT Summer showed a difference of 1 gram cumulated weight loss after 7,962 km (0.07 mg/km/T). DEKRA concludes the impact on abrasion level of the reference vehicle using SRTT is low or very low.

Existing C1 tyre-abrasion test methods cannot be directly applied to C3 tyres because vehicles equipped with C3 tyres are used differently. Japan is developing a vehicle test method using WHVC mode and plans to develop a drum test method based on test conditions and results. Test conditions will convert vehicle driving conditions representing the world into indoor drum test settings. C2 test method uses driving mode based on WLTP with fixed test load details, with verification tests using reference tyres. For C3, driving modes and test conditions are under preliminary investigation, with verification tests to be planned.

• ETRTO to check feasibility to upload acceleration calculation examples on TFTA wiki,
• SWG on data assessment to define scope and mandate by 49th session,
• ITTAC proposal (TA-45-8v1) on Convoy Method Dual-Normalisation Framework deferred to next session,
• UTAC Gantt timeline reviewed; ETRTO regulatory experts reviewed proposal; technical experts review pending,
• Tyres Europe stated EU Tire Industry funded over 3m for C1 activities and will provide over 1m additional financing for C2 and C3 work; requested TFTA co-financing,
• EC will escalate request; JRC will participate with 2 convoys for C2 in 2026 and C3 in 2027,
• SWG on data assessment to define scope, mandate, and leader for next session,
• DEKRA presentation on vehicle impact with SRTT; vehicle effect neutralized through tyre rotation for correlation purposes,
• JRC service life update presented; analysis planned for end of 2026,
• ETRTO C2 test method development restarted May 2026; temperature impact observed for winter SRTT requiring 2026 workplan verification,
• GRBP Working Document delivery for C2 test method postponed to February 2027,
• ETRTO and JASIC C3 presentations deferred for comments next session.