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The aim of this study is to develop techniques which can be used to assess tire performance for a motorcycle in a race track and correlate them with subjective perceptions of race riders. This approach focusses on using vehicle level performance parameters and transfer functions to assess tire performance. A subjective assessment study is performed to understand rider’s perception. Tire behavior is then studied by assessing the dynamic performance of the motorcycle in a race track. Analysis techniques are then developed to interpret the data measured and understand tire performance. Based on these techniques, vehicle dynamic parameters and transfer functions that can be used to asses tire performance are developed. Correlations between objective findings and subjective perceptions are then identified.

The aim of the present study is to develop feasible test methods to measure the lateral force characteristics of motorcycle tires. In this work, new experimental procedures are developed to estimate the lateral friction coefficient and lateral stiffness characteristics of motorcycle tires. A fairly accurate tire model is developed using the measured lateral force characteristics. Based on this tire model, the steer behavior and the cornering limits of the motorcycle are estimated using an analytical model of the vehicle. The results are validated with experimental data. The test methods proposed are shown to be adequate to estimate tire characteristics that are important for tire development and is less expensive compared to the standard testing facilities available.