Tire Testing
Rapid Deflation Testing with Te.Sense Bloom
Te.Sense Bloom is a unique passenger car tire testing device that simulates the rapid tire pressure deflation that occurs during a severe tire puncture.
Unlike traditional cleat puncture devices, Te.Sense Bloom does not destroy a test tire, thus reducing unnecessary waste and expense. It also allows targeted, controllable deflation of individual tires.
Te.Sense Bloom is a must-have testing tool for tire verification tests, such as those related to FMVSS 110. It is also ideal for special vehicle stability testing, such as EV testing - where targeted tire deflation may required, rather than multi-tire cleat punctures.
Te.Sense Bloom can be mounted to any wheel, and the standard kit includes KTL's remote-controlled tire deflation valve, wheel and vehicle mounting hardware, and an in-car Deflation Trigger and Pressure Monitoring sensor harness that enables user-friendly test control and monitoring.
Te.Sense Bloom
Rapid tire pressure deflation device that simulates a severe passenger car tire puncture.
Features
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Non-destructive tire testing: Eliminates wasteful puncture methods
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Cost savings: Reduces tire consumption & test expenses
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Targeted deflation control: Allows precise, single-tire testing for accurate results
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Compliance-ready: Meets FMVSS 110 and global EV stability test standards
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Real-time pressure data capture
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Suitable for lab or test track
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Includes instructions for mounting to any wheel
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Includes easy set-up wheel / chassis / bodywork mounts
Technical Specifications
Te.Sense Bloom provides a non-destructive alternative to cleat puncture testing that allows controlled, rapid deflation of individually selected tires. The device uses a controllable central air ejector valve with a volume and flow capacity that simulates a sudden tire pressure loss event. Using air valves in such a way for tire testing is, in itself, not a new approach. KTL’s innovations relate to the turn-key nature of Te.Sense Bloom for automotive evaluators and engineers, providing a repeatable set up method, easy in-car operation, and simple connectivity with data acquisition systems.
What is FMVSS 110?
FMVSS 110 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110) is a testing standard aimed at verifying that a vehicle’s tires, wheels, and specified inflation pressures are appropriate for a vehicle’s maximum loads and intended use, and that this information is accurately communicated to consumers.
Automakers use the results of FMVSS 110 tests to select tire sizes and pressures that balance safety, durability, ride, and efficiency, and to set the placard values that guide customers in everyday use. Tire manufacturers, in turn, use the information to ensure their tires’ load capacities and performance characteristics align with vehicle requirements, to support original equipment fitments, and to inform design, validation, and customer guidance for replacement tires.
Interestingly, FMVSS 110 does not explicitly include any test that involves puncturing a tire, as it is strictly a vehicle-level standard. Compliance is demonstrated through calculations, documentation, and inspections - not through physical damage or durability testing of tires.
That said, cleat puncture tire deflation tests are typically conducted voluntarily by automakers and tire manufacturers as a companion to FMVSS 110 to better understand and manage vehicle safety, control-ability, and durability in real-world failure scenarios.
From an automaker’s perspective, rapid deflation testing helps evaluate how a vehicle behaves when a tire suddenly loses air due to a road hazard. Engineers study steering pull, yaw response, braking stability, and electronic system behavior (ABS, ESC, torque vectoring) during and after pressure loss. This information is used to tune suspension geometry, steering assist, brake control logic, and stability-control calibrations so the driver can maintain control long enough to safely slow down. It also informs decisions about tire specifications, recommended pressures, spare tire strategies, and whether tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning thresholds are appropriate.
For tire manufacturers, cleat puncture and rapid deflation tests are used to assess structural robustness and failure mode—specifically how the tire carcass, belts, bead, and sidewall behave when damaged. Engineers examine whether air loss is gradual or sudden, how heat builds up, whether the bead remains seated, and how the tire supports loads during the initial moments after deflation. The results guide material selection, belt angles, bead design, sidewall reinforcement, and, for run-flat tires, the ability to carry load for a limited distance after pressure loss.
For both industries, rapid tire deflation tests support product development, internal safety targets, and competitive benchmarking, and they help reduce the likelihood that a common road hazard - such as striking debris or a pothole - leads to an immediate loss of vehicle control. While voluntary and proprietary, rapid deflation testing plays a critical role in improving real-world safety beyond minimum regulatory compliance.
Of course, KTL is an advocate of rapid tire deflation testing using non-destructive methods with Te.Sense Bloom!
