A method for testing the wear of tires running on a rolling road comprises the following steps: using the construction data of the vehicle and a dynamic equilibrium model, determining the relationship between the speed and the accelerations at the centre of gravity of the vehicle, and the angles and directional forces applied on a given axle; continuously recording the speed and the accelerations of a vehicle travelling on a predetermined route; and disposing the two tires belonging to a same axle on the rolling road and, depending on the recorded speed and acceleration values, the values of the angle of camber, load and longitudinal forces are applied, at all times, on each of the wheels of the axle. The values of the transverse forces undergone by each of the wheels are measured and the drift angle is varied so that the sum of the transverse forces resulting from the drifting of the tires is equal, at all times, to the transverse force applied to the centre of the axle and so that the difference in drift between the two wheels respects the variation in alignment imposed on the axle.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a low-cost system for inspecting the integrity of a wheel rim, said system including one or more of the following: a portable compact x-ray device; a wheel gripping means operable to rotate and hold the rim in position; and an x-ray detector panel; wherein said x-ray detector panel is operable to produce an image of the wheel rim on a computer, to thereby manipulate and store images of said wheel rim.

A method for testing the wear of tires running on a rolling road comprises the following steps: using the construction data of the vehicle and a dynamic equilibrium model, determining the relationship between the speed and the accelerations at the centre of gravity of the vehicle, and the angles and directional forces applied on a given axle; continuously recording the speed and the accelerations of a vehicle travelling on a predetermined route and disposing the two tires belonging to a same axle on the rolling road and, depending on the recorded speed and acceleration values, the values of the angle of camber, load and longitudinal forces are applied, at all times, on each of the wheels of the axle. The values of the transverse forces undergone by each of the wheels are measured and the drift angle is varied so that the sum of the transverse forces resulting from the drifting of the tires is equal, at all times, to the transverse force applied to the centre of the axle and so that the difference in drift between the two wheels respects the variation in alignment imposed on the axle.