Apparatus and method for testing tire liner surface adhesion capability

In combination a tire and apparatus for measuring adhesion capability of a tire inner liner characterized by:

• the tire liner having a target surface region;
• a film strip for attachment to the tire liner and having a through opening located for overlapping at least a portion of the tire liner target surface region and the film strip having an attachment interface distanced from the opening;
• an adhesive backed cover member for attachment to the film strip in covering relationship to the strip opening and the cover member including a portion for establishing adhesive contact with at least of portion of the tire liner target surface region through the film strip opening;
• means attached to the strip attachment interface for exerting a directional peeling force upon the strip sufficient to separate the cover member portion from the tire liner target surface region portion;
• and
• means for measuring the directional peeling force.

A method for measuring adhesion capability in a tire liner, characterized by the steps:

• a. positioning a film strip over a tire liner surface, the film strip having an opening disposed to overlap a liner target surface region and an attachment interface distanced from the film strip opening;
• b. applying an adhesive backed tape to the film strip over the film strip opening and into an adhesive attachment with a portion of the tire liner target region located through the film strip opening;
• c. engaging the film strip interface to unitarily peel the film strip and the tape from the liner surface;
• and
• d. measuring the force required to effect the peeling of the film strip and tape from the liner surface.