Study on the mechanism of belt cord angle contribution to tire cornering power

Abstract

In this study, tests on the cornering and self-aligning stiffness of tires with various belt cord angles were conducted. Subsequently, a new cornering power model was developed to analyze the mechanism of the belt cord angle’s influence. It was observed that the cornering stiffness is influenced by the combined effect of the length of contact patch and the lateral stiffness of the belt, both of which are affected by the belt cord angle. Specifically, an increase in the belt cord angle leads to a longer contact patch, which results in an increase in the cornering stiffness. Additionally, an increase in the belt cord angle causes a decrease in the lateral stiffness of the belt. Consequently, the lateral flexibility of the carcass increases, leading to a decrease in cornering stiffness. Furthermore, the influence of the lateral flexibility of the carcass becomes more prominent with an increase in the load. As a result, under heavy loads, the cornering stiffness decreases with an increasing belt cord angle. It was also observed that the influence of the belt cord angle on self-aligning stiffness is mainly achieved through the impact on contact length, with self-aligning stiffness increasing as contact length increases. The torsional stiffness of the carcass, influenced by variations in the belt cord angle, does not significantly impact the self-aligning stiffness of the tire. These findings provide valuable insights into tire mechanics and offer guidance for the design and development of tires with enhanced cornering performance.