Identification of motorcycle tire properties by means of a testing machine

This paper describes an experimental research program aimed to quantify the concept of “relaxation length” of the rolling, steered and cambered motorcycle tire. Hypothesis about the transient behaviour of lateral force are compared for the general motorcycle tire and a new mathematical model suited to the case of enforced steer motion is developed. In the first part of this paper the particular features of the tester machine developed at University of Padova are highlighted. Many cross-ply and radial-ply tires with different tread and ply materials were tested. Experimental data obtained my means of the rotating disc tester machine are analyzed by means of the mathematical model. The effect on transient behaviour of important working conditions like tire load and inflation pressure is presented and discussed.