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Using analysis of a mini-van test vehicle’s static load conditions as a guide, four different vehicle loading situation were constructed. The loading situations represent the corners of the vehicle’s center of gravity position envelope. For the testing described in this paper a single vehicle under conditions of varied load was subjected to a series of test maneuvers designed to elicit objective measure and comparison of vehicle steady-state and transient response. The purpose of this paper is to describe the test method and present the results of handling testing and limit stability testing of a 1991 Ford Aerostar mini-van/extended van under four different loading conditions. Differences observed in the plotted results of vehicle steady state response for different load condition are detectable, but small. The test results demonstrate differences in vehicle transient response for different loading configuration.

Catastrophic and sudden tire tread separation is an event that drivers of motor vehicles may encounter and, in some instances, is implicated as the cause of motor vehicle crashes and related injury or property damage. In an effort to understand how tire tread separation affects vehicle handling, a series of tread separation handling test programs were conducted. In each tread separation test program a sport utility vehicle was instrumented and equipped with steel belted radial tires that were modified to emulate tread separation between the inner and outer steel belts. The test vehicle was then subjected to a variety of open and closed loop handling test maneuvers. This paper presents the data and analysis from these tests. The research demonstrates through controlled experiments that a tire tread separation has an effect on the vehicle’s fundamental handling characteristics. It also demonstrates that the effect depends on the position of the compromised tire on the vehicle.