Since the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal vision of its early rulers has been one of growth and development in all aspects of life. This was to provide for the needs of the Hejaz and Najd regions in earlier times. Over the years, systems in Saudi Arabia evolved, reaching their peak in recent years with the launch of the vision of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who presented a comprehensive vision for Saudi Arabia until 2030. Within a few years, the Kingdom ascended to the forefront of regional nations in terms of economy, infrastructure, general trade, and other political, economic, and social aspects. With these developments, the need arose to establish rules and controls for the quality of products imported or manufactured in Saudi Arabia. This necessitated the creation of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, known as SASO. Through SASO, efforts were coordinated to grant the Saudi Quality Mark (SQM) as an official certification that a product has undergone various rigorous and precise tests, ensuring it has exceeded the minimum standards for specifications and quality, meaning it is safe for use in Saudi Arabia. Among these products are tires for trucks, cars, and various vehicles.
The Saudi Quality Mark is the official standard granted by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) to tires that pass the rigorous tests imposed on products. This ensures that high-quality products, along with their environmental characteristics and handling capabilities, are allowed into Saudi Arabia, thereby guaranteeing public safety and security. This is where Darbk Tires' efforts began to provide tires compatible with Saudi Arabia's climatic environment, in addition to diverse working environments characterized by extreme variations between mountainous, rocky regions and Nafud areas with dense desert sands. SASO-approved tires offer multiple advantages over other tires, including superior manufacturing quality and excellent performance on Saudi roads, which are known for extremely high temperatures. Furthermore, these tires have a longer lifespan than non-SQM certified tires, offer improved fuel efficiency during long journeys, and come with reliable, long-term warranties from manufacturers, agents, and local distributors.
The Saudi Quality Mark is not merely a routine label; it is, in fact, a highly stringent safety clearance aimed at achieving quality and standards and raising confidence in national products.
The importance of discussing the Saudi Quality Mark in the context of tires lies in the fact that tires are the most vital component in logistics operations, being the only part of any vehicle that touches the road. This direct contact with asphalt roads significantly impacts many vehicle features, including stability on the designated path, maintaining legal speeds, braking capability, and quick stopping, as well as vehicle handling and providing high driving comfort. Add to all this the significant differences in fuel consumption. However, the paramount importance stems from the unique challenges of Saudi Arabia's road network, which consists of relatively long roads passing through deserts, mountains, and cities, coupled with the relatively long summer season in the region. This makes tires a sensitive component prone to causing a disaster at any moment, necessitating the selection of appropriate tires for these tasks, a process simplified by the presence of the Saudi Quality Mark on the product. This means that the best options available today in Saudi Arabia are the diverse tires offered by Darbk Company.
What is the concept of the Saudi Quality Mark for tires?
The Saudi Quality Mark (SQM) is the necessary standardization and conformity mark granted by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). It is based on dedicated international quality standards such as IEC/ISO17965, which reflect a manufacturer's commitment to implementing effective quality systems and strict technical specifications. The Saudi Quality Mark is required for specific product categories to ensure consumer safety. While it is an optional request for most products, it is mandatory for some production categories, such as the tire manufacturing sector, which is considered a vital component impacting societal and economic security. The Saudi Quality Mark is an official symbol that guarantees these tires have undergone precise and rigorous testing and thorough inspection to verify quality and standard specifications that cannot be compromised.
One of the main objectives of the Quality Mark is to protect consumers from fraud and deception by preventing the purchase of poor-quality or counterfeit products. Thus, the Saudi Quality Mark serves as a shield for consumers in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that tires bearing this mark are safe for use on Saudi roads and providing confidence in their high quality. This significantly reduces accidents resulting from manufacturing defects in tires or poor tire quality and their inability to withstand the conditions prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Herein lies the role of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization in raising the overall quality level of all products entering Saudi Arabia, which enhances market competitiveness, provides better pricing options for consumers, and compels manufacturers to adhere to the rules and regulations imposed by the organization. Additionally, it supports national products and local factories by encouraging local manufacturers to apply for quality certification for their products, as Darbk Truck Tires has done, now considered a leading company in this field in Saudi Arabia due to its products and tires passing highly rigorous and precise quality tests. Finally, the Saudi Quality Mark aims to curb non-compliant products, which are usually of very poor quality and do not conform to international and local specifications, posing a risk to consumers' lives in terms of physical, financial, or economic harm, as these products may be prone to ignition or explosion, causing more damage than anticipated.
Protecting consumers from fraud and deception is one of the most important goals pursued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, achieved by implementing key tests that reveal the strengths and weaknesses of products entering Saudi Arabia.
To obtain the Saudi Quality Mark for your local or non-local products, manufacturers and importers must comply with the requirements outlined in the general technical regulations for the Saudi Quality Mark and the specific procedures for granting the Quality Mark to your products. This process involves submitting the required documents with extreme accuracy, providing proof of your factory's ability to supply products that conform to the specified standards, in addition to passing the necessary tests to obtain a certificate of conformity to specifications, metrology, and quality. The applicant can then obtain an energy use license or an energy efficiency certificate for products such as tires and others.
What are the standard specifications for tires in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has paid significant attention to establishing comprehensive standard specifications for tires, given their direct impact on public road safety. SASO has issued 24 standard specifications in this field, aiming to ensure that tires circulated in the Saudi market are suitable for hot climatic conditions and challenging, varying road conditions.
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization has classified tires according to specific criteria, foremost among them being energy efficiency, which depends on the rolling resistance generated by the tire while moving on the road or when starting from a standstill. Naturally, tires with lower rolling resistance are better because they save fuel and provide the truck with greater torque on the roads, in addition to better grip on the designated path. Following this is the Traction criterion, which is measured by the stopping distance when braking on wet surfaces. This depends on the design of the tread grooves and channels, which displace liquids and water separating the tire from the asphalt, thereby providing a larger contact patch and stopping the truck in a shorter distance, without catastrophic skidding that could endanger many lives. Tires are classified accordingly into (AA, A, B, C), and tires from categories (AA, A) are preferred for their superior ability to stop trucks within standard time and distance.
Next comes the temperature resistance of the tire. Given the high temperatures in Saudi Arabia, the organization pays close attention to selecting high heat-resistant tires. Tire temperature ratings are divided into several classifications: (A, B, C). As is well known, Category A is the strongest and most resistant to high temperatures. Experts strongly advise against choosing categories B and C in extremely hot areas because they are more prone to bursting. After ensuring the selection of the appropriate temperature category, the lifespan and expiry period of the tires come into play. A specific storage time has also been set: tires may not be sold more than 24 months from their production date. Storing tires for more than two years means they may have lost many of their quality properties and could be susceptible to oxidation and adverse reactions due to poor storage, while the average service life is five years. This period can increase or decrease depending on the conditions tires endure in different operating environments and their exposure to varying temperatures.
24 specifications were meticulously chosen to be the general standard specifications for tires operating on Saudi Arabia's road network.
Rigorous testing is the backbone of the Saudi Quality Mark.
Tires granted the Saudi Quality Mark by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization undergo a series of tests that simulate extreme adverse conditions to which a tire might be exposed. This adopts the principle of caution and prudence, through which each tire is meticulously inspected to determine if it can handle difficult conditions such as cracks, fissures, and unpaved roads, as well as the challenges of high temperatures and the tire's ability to withstand these challenges. This process results in tires of medium to high efficiency, while low-efficiency, poor-quality, and low-resistance products are eliminated. The following tests are among the most important in determining the quality and efficiency level of tires.
- Rolling Resistance Test: This is a tire rotation test to determine their rolling resistance level, which in turn indicates energy efficiency or torque power. High rolling resistance in tires acts as an impediment to the engine, requiring it to produce greater torque to move the tires, which means higher fuel consumption and weaker tire grip on the road, in addition to other problems. In contrast, tires that have obtained the Saudi Quality Mark (such as Darbk Company's tires) have lower rolling resistance, making them fuel-efficient and more stable on the road.
- Tensile Strength Test: This test involves increasing pressure on the tire's sides and edges while exposing samples to extreme temperatures (20-70 degrees Celsius). This provides precise information about the tire's ability to withstand tension and pulling forces, especially at high temperatures which increase its flexibility. Shear resistance is also tested using steel belts specifically designed for this purpose. Ultimately, this helps measure the rubber's elasticity after 10,000 stress cycles, thereby ensuring the durability of tires that receive the Saudi Quality Mark.
- Endurance Test: This can be considered the most crucial test for many drivers. Tires are tested to withstand loads 40% greater than their specified capacity. Furthermore, tires are tested under these loads at high speeds exceeding 120 kilometers per hour. This provides precise information about the tire's failure point, indicating when it should be taken out of service, leading to more accurate warnings. Additionally, it guarantees that the tire will not fail under extreme pressure. Even though tires operate at approximately 50% below their failure pressure, the risk remains very high, as we are dealing with a high-risk domain.
- Wet Grip Test: This is where its critical importance lies, as the wet grip test is crucial for determining the strength and quality of the tire tread. The tread features channels and grooves designed to drain water and liquids that would otherwise create a barrier between the tire and the asphalt. Once the grip level is determined, a symbol ranging from (A) to (G) is assigned, indicating the degree of wet resistance and the tire's effectiveness when driving on wet or rainy roads.
These four tests are sufficient to determine if tires meet the conditions and standards set by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. These tests subject tires to the highest levels of pressure, endurance, and extreme temperatures.
Manufacturing Date and Tire Service Life
The tire is the only component separating your truck from the road. Its deterioration, both in chemical and physical properties, means you are on the verge of a troublesome, potentially horrific, accident. Tires serve as tools for your protection and that of your truck if they are within their service life and before their expiration date. However, after this period, the chemical compounds begin to degrade and react with the external environment. This is undesirable, as it is a primary cause of many accidents on commercial roads, with tires suddenly exploding without warning. This is a result of severe wear and tear and weakened bonds between their core components. Therefore, you must pay attention to the manufacturing date and service life of tires, especially truck tires.
How Do Manufacturers Determine Tire Service Life?
This is an interesting question. The process of determining a tire's service life begins by establishing certain criteria against which performance is measured. This is where accelerated aging tests come into play, where tires are exposed to 80 degrees Celsius and 90% humidity for 90 days, simulating 5 years of normal use. This provides an anticipated view of the tires' endurance, resistance to oxidation, and degradation. A Durometer is also used to measure the loss of rubber elasticity. Furthermore, chemical composition analysis is conducted by tracking the evaporation rate of antioxidants and monitoring the formation of microscopic ozone cracks under an electron microscope. In addition, Saudi road conditions are simulated, including hot asphalt exceeding 70 degrees Celsius and high concentrations of UV radiation from direct sunlight. This gives manufacturers a comprehensive understanding of tire efficiency and their operational lifespan. Nowadays, it's rare to see tires with a service life of ten years. This is because the current focus is on providing the best quality and most suitable price while reducing industrial and environmental costs, which limits factories from using long-lasting materials that require manufacturing processes not available today.
The manufacturing date on tires can be read by interpreting the number found on the tire sidewall. For example, with the number (0525), the first two digits, "05", represent the week sequence, meaning the tire was manufactured in the fifth week of the year. The last two digits, "25", represent the year of manufacture, i.e., 2025. This way, you will know how to read the manufacturing date and understand the importance of a tire's service life.
What are the steps to verify the authenticity of the Saudi Quality Mark on tires?
This can be done through a physical inspection of the tire, as the quality mark is prominently displayed as an (SQM) logo on the tire and is non-removable. You can also verify the presence of a security feature with fine microscopic lines. However, easier methods involve electronic verification through the use of the "Taakad" app which shows you the complete history of quality tests. Alternatively, you can use the website of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) by entering the certificate number displayed on the label affixed to the tire, or via SMS service by sending a QR code to the number (920033335).
However, with tires specifically provided by Darbk Company for Saudi Arabia, you don't need to verify or review. Darbk Company reviews and re-examines all its products to ensure their suitability for the Saudi environment, as they have designed tires specifically for this environment and region. This provides high safety and confidence in what Saudi Darbk Company produces. Your truck, its load, and your goods are all safe with Darbk's unique tires.
