Who provides tyre emissions testing?
Tyre emissions testing has moved rapidly from a niche research activity to a mainstream industry and regulatory priority. As awareness of non-exhaust emissions grows and regulators begin to address tyre wear particles more formally, a growing number of organisations now offer some form of tyre emissions measurement or analysis.
Understanding who provides these services, and what distinguishes them, helps clarify what type of data is being generated and what it can reliably tell you.
What is tyre emissions testing?
Tyre emissions testing involves measuring the particles and chemical compounds released as tyres wear during normal driving. It typically covers two areas:
Wear rate and particle size: how much mass a tyre loses under defined conditions, and the physical characteristics of the particles released
Chemical composition: the organic and inorganic compounds present in tyre material and tyre wear particles, including additives such as antidegradants and their transformation products
Together, these measurements provide insight into both the quantity and the nature of tyre-derived pollution entering the environment.
Types of tyre emissions testing providers
Tyre emissions testing is currently provided by several distinct types of organisations,each with a different emphasis and purpose.
Tyre industry technical centres and manufacturer laboratories
Many major tyre manufacturers operate internal technical centres that conduct emissions and wear testing as part of product development.
Testing in this context is typically used to support compound formulation, durability assessment, and product performance claims. The focus is on how a tyre performs under specified conditions relevant to the manufacturer's own development objectives.
Data generated in this way may not always be published or independently verified, and methodology can vary between organisations, making direct comparison across brands difficult.
Certification and regulatory laboratories
As tyre wear regulation develops, particularly around non-exhaust emissions and the environmental fate of tyre wear particles, certification laboratories are beginning to develop formal testing capabilities.
These organisations focus on compliance. Their role is to assess whether products meet defined regulatory standards, using prescribed test methods that ensure repeatability and consistency.
The emphasis is on standardised procedures rather than detailed compositional insight, and testing is typically conducted within the framework of a specific regulatory requirement.
Academic and research institutions
Academic institutions have contributed significantly to the understanding of tyre wear particles, particularly in relation to environmental fate, ecotoxicology, and the identification of compounds of concern such as 6PPD and its transformation products.
Research-led testing tends to focus on specific scientific questions rather than commercial product comparison or regulatory compliance. Methodologies are often experimental and not always reproducible at scale.
This type of work is important for advancing scientific understanding of tyre emissions, but it operates in a different context from routine industry or regulatory testing.
Independent analytical testing organisations
Independent testing organisations focus on objective measurement and analysis of tyre emissions across a wide range of products, brands, and conditions.
Their role is not to certify compliance or support a specific manufacturer's development programme, but to generate reliable, comparable data that can be used to understand how tyres actually perform in the real world.
This includes wear rate measurement, particle size distribution, and detailed chemical analysis using advanced techniques. The emphasis is on consistency of method, independence from commercial incentives, and the ability to compare across a broad dataset.
Where Emissions Analytics fits
Emissions Analytics is an independent testing organisation specialising in real-world tyre emissions measurement and chemical analysis.
Using our Brake and Tyre Analysis System (BTAS), we combine on-road driving with laboratory analysis to measure tyre wear rates, real-time particle size distribution, and chemical composition across a wide range of tyre brands, sizes, and categories.
Chemical analysis is conducted using two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF-MS), providing detailed identification and quantification of compounds present in tyre material. This includes antidegradants such as 6PPD, their transformation products such as 6PPD-Q, and a broad range of other organic compounds.
We have conducted more than 500 tyre tests across Europe and the United States, building a substantial comparative dataset that enables meaningful benchmarking across the industry.
Our work is used by tyre manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, regulators, environmental researchers, and policy organisations seeking objective insight into the environmental impact of tyre wear.
Why the distinction matters
While many organisations now have some capability in tyre emissions measurement, their roles and outputs differ significantly.
Manufacturer testing supports product development and internal benchmarking, but may not be directly comparable across competitors. Regulatory laboratories focus on compliance within defined frameworks. Academic research advances scientific understanding, but may not be scalable for routine commercial use. Independent testing provides objective, comparable data across a wide range of products and conditions, free from development or compliance objectives.
These differences shape the type of insight that each approach can provide. As non-exhaust emissions move into the regulatory spotlight and organisations across the industry seek to understand and reduce the environmental impact of tyre wear, the ability to compare products reliably and independently becomes increasingly important.
Independent tyre emissions testing helps bridge the gap between internal product data, regulatory requirements, and the broader scientific understanding of how tyre wear affects air quality and the environment.
Speak to our team
If you would like to learn more about tyre emissions testing or discuss a specific project, get in touch with our team.
We can support everything from targeted fuel analysis to broader research and benchmarking programmes.
