The Development and Comparative Evaluation of Analytical Tire Models for Dynamic Vehicle Simulation.

The study describes the development of improved tire models suitable for inclusion in dynamic vehicle simulations, and compares their performance to provide guidelines for model selection and use. The literature on dynamic tire modelling has been reviewed to identify the major areas for model improvements. Four basic tire models, representing extensions of existing analyses, have been developed. These models range from the simple non-enveloping point contact model to the fully enveloping adaptive footprint model which includes both inflation pressure and carcass stiffness effects, and simulates a dynamically varying footprint. Analyses and governing equations for the vertical and fore-and-aft tire force arising during operation over non-yielding ground are presented for each model. Methods of quantifying the model parameters from tire specifications and other data are described.