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The aim of the present study is to develop feasible test methods to measure the lateral force characteristics of motorcycle tires. In this work, new experimental procedures are developed to estimate the lateral friction coefficient and lateral stiffness characteristics of motorcycle tires. A fairly accurate tire model is developed using the measured lateral force characteristics. Based on this tire model, the steer behavior and the cornering limits of the motorcycle are estimated using an analytical model of the vehicle. The results are validated with experimental data. The test methods proposed are shown to be adequate to estimate tire characteristics that are important for tire development and is less expensive compared to the standard testing facilities available.

Vehicle dynamic simulations demand tire models, which are computationally efficient and capable of reliably predicting the dynamics of the tire. Such simple steady state and transient reduced order models are also required by tire designers to make preliminary predictions concerning behavior and judge quantitatively the relative importance of each of the subcomponents. In the realm of three dimensional multi-body dynamics, most models used are semi-empirical, where the tire is characterized by a set of equations. While the highest hierarchy in the modeling regime is a full three dimensional finite element model, the ensuing deformable multi-body dynamics is not economical for simulation. In this paper we offer an exact methodology to extract tire physical properties in order to develop a reduced order model equivalent to a complete Finite Element tire.

The aim of the present study is to develop feasible test methods to measure tire parameters that can be used in two wheeler industry for tire development. In this work, test methods are developed to measure the longitudinal friction coefficient and stiffness characteristics of motorcycle tires. Using the measured longitudinal forces from the testing procedure, a fairly accurate tire model has been developed. Based on this tire model the braking performance of the motorcycle is estimated using an analytical model of the vehicle. These are validated with experimental data. It is found that there is a good match between the results. The test is conducted for various bias ply tires used in motorcycles and the results are presented. The test methods proposed are shown to be adequate to estimate tire characteristics that are important for tire development and is less expensive compared to the standard testing facilities available.