Numerical Simulation for the Tire-Rim Interface for a Radial Passenger Tire

The interference fit between the tire bead and the rim is adopted by tire designers to secure the attachment of tire to rim and to insure an airtight seal. A finite element model was developed to simulate the tire-rim interface of a radial passenger tire.

The predicted distribution of contact pressure at the tire-rim interface agreed very well with the available experimental measurements. Several variations of the tire-rim interference fit were analyzed to gain insight into the effects of tire-rim interference.