Tire Properties Effects on Passenger Car Handling

A recently completed research program has dealt with the problem of determining the influence of tire construction properties on vehicle braking and handling performance. Several tire properties that affect vehicle dynamic response have been identified and their effects quantitatively determined. Laboratory testing of a large sample of tires has shown that aspect ratio and basic construction type (that is, bias, bias-belted, radial) can significantly affect tire peak braking coefficient and cornering stiffness. The results of computer simulation studies and experimental tests with four automobiles have shown that the effect of changes in the peak braking force coefficient of tires on the average longitudinal deceleration of vehicles with fixed brake proportioning was small. The most marked departures from the handling performance with the OE tire configuration occurred when the performance characteristics (primarily cornering stiffness and peak lateral force coefficient) of the tires at the front and rear were different