Patent ID: 7140242

Claim:
A lateral load tire testing system for testing a tire mounted on a rotatable spindle, the system comprising: a load assembly; a tire support assembly configured to place the tire in contact with said load assembly, wherein said tire support assembly includes a spindle frame and a spindle housing, said spindle frame having a support extending therefrom; said spindle housing defining a spindle bore adapted to rotatably receive the spindle, said spindle housing having a support opposite said support on said spindle frame; a load cell located between and attached to said supports, said load cell being adapted to measure forces resulting from relative axial movement between said supports, said load cell being in electrical communication with a controller, whereby lateral forces are measured by said load cell and communicated to said controller; and wherein said tire support assembly is pivotable about a pivot axis extending tangentially to said load assembly at a point where the tire contacts said load assembly to create a camber angle between the tire and said load assembly.