With increasing demand for improving the vehicle Ride and Handling (R&H) performance, the synergy between vehicle subsystems such as suspension, chassis, brakes & tyres play a major role towards it. In this regard, the interaction between wheel rim width and tyre performance characteristics is a key focus area in vehicle development process. Detailed research is being conducted worldwide to understand their dynamics of interaction and based on the tested data, vehicle manufacturers make the design selection. In this context, the proposed study aims to provide a in-depth analysis of how variations in wheel rim width affect key tyre performance parameters such as lateral force characteristics, damping property, tyre footprint, and pinch cut resistance. Also, the subsequent influence on vehicle-level performance parameters such as R&H, braking, steering, and durability is captured. Based on these analysis, appropriate wheel rim size selection is done which is most optimal for the project requirements.
The study involves multiple rig-level testing and full-vehicle evaluation data through which several observations have been tabulated which reinforce the previous studies and provide new insights. Firstly, it was observed that narrower wheel rims tend to have reduced rolling resistance in turn offering higher fuel efficiency. However, this comes at the cost of reduced lateral grip and stability during vehicle direction-changing maneuvers. In contrast, wider wheel rims enhance traction and cornering power by providing a broader contact patch between the tyre and the road surface. Furthermore, the study shows that the tyre sidewall pinch-cut performance is deteriorated with wider wheel width. This is due to the tyre mounted on a narrower rim showing uniform energy dissipation along the cavity thus preventing any sidewall cuts during curb impacts.
In conclusion, this study shows a detailed perspective on the intricate relationship between wheel rim width and tyre performance characteristics which can help vehicle OEMs to make quicker and informed decisions regarding wheel rim width selection to optimize both performance and efficiency while ensuring safe driving conditions.