Test the brakes on a dry, clean, reasonably smooth and level roadway. A true test of brake performance cannot be made if the roadway is wet, greasy or covered with loose dirt. The tires will not grip the road equally. Testing is adversely affected when the roadway is crowned. This throws the weight of the vehicle toward the wheels on one side. Also, if the roadway is rough the wheels will bounce.

Test the brakes at different vehicle speeds with both a light and the heavy pedal pressure. A firmer pedal may be felt at higher deceleration rates due to the higher deceleration capability.