METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TESTING DEFLATED TIRE HANDLING

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a subjective test method for characterizing the handling performance of deflated self-supporting tires. SOLUTION: Tires are positioned on selected wheels of a test vehicle and a tire-vehicle combination is subjected to a plurality of different driving maneuvers such that a variety of testing objectives can be achieved. Exemplary driving maneuvers are representative of a vehicle's operation in steady state, transient state, throttle lift-off, and/or emergency driving situations. Testing objectives obtained in accordance with each test maneuver may include both objective criteria that may be obtained via vehicle instrumentation and subjective criteria that may be assigned grade ratings by a test driver. Uniformity of testing maneuvers and driver solicitation is preferred to minimize dispersion in test results. A standardized report is provided such that the results of the testing may be properly documented. Selected test data are used to provide performance ratings for tire acceptability levels. Some performance ratings are automatically calculated through an established algorithm, and all ratings are preferably provided on a common rating scale. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO