Driving Stability of Buses and the Effects of Rubber Tires

The majority of driving stability studies have concentrated on personal motor vehicles. The purpose of this study was two-fold: to analyze the driving stability of larger vehicles and to investigate the influences of rubber tires on this stability. A bus underwent various tests that were designed to measure driving and stability characteristics of automobiles. Numerical formulations were developed for comparison of these characteristics. The results of these tests indicated the following:

- The conventional methods for testing and evaluating the driving stability of automobiles may also be effectively applied to buses.

- The manner in which different types of rubber tires affect driving stability can be measured and expressed numerically.

- The slalom test with its corresponding process of data-evaluation is an effective measurement of driving characteristics; it can also be conducted quickly and easily.

Understanding of driving characteristics on slippery road surfaces remained poorly defined; further studies are called for.