Nexen Invests in Simulator for Tire Testing

Nexen Tire Corp. is using a driving simulator to advance its tire research and development with the help of virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

The High Dynamic Driving Simulator is located at the tiremaker's central research institute in Seoul, Korea. By simulating real-world conditions, Nexen says it can apply vehicle specifications and parameters to test performance metrics including acceleration, steering response and braking.

Nexen expects the simulator will help it minimize trial and error during tire development, and also reduce the production of prototypes and reliance on real vehicle testing. (Both of those savings will contribute to lowering fossil fuel emissions, too, the company noted.)

All the while it will "accelerate innovation while cutting costs. By replacing costly and time-intensive physical road tests with virtual evaluations, engineers can conduct more precise tire development within limited space and in various conditions."

The simulator is also expected to help Nexen match original equipment requirements more quickly with automakers around the world. "In particular, it is expected to strengthen collaboration in developing tires for new concept and high-performance vehicles."

Automakers are already making the switch to virtual development processes to condense their own production cycles, the tiremaker notes, and eventually, Nexen says it plans to create a "full virtual development process" with the goal of using simulations for all testing.

“Ahead of the industry trend toward virtual development of vehicles and tires, the establishment of our High Dynamic Driving Simulator is a strategic investment to lead the future mobility sector,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of Nexen. “By combining VR and AI technologies, we will enhance both the efficiency and precision of our R&D while contributing to ESG management, thereby strengthening our global competitiveness.”