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This paper describes the results of experiments carried out for modifying the characteristics of leaf springs with a view to improving ride comfort in leaf spring suspension vehicles. In this study, the factors contributing to the hysteresis loop of leaf springs, especially to the inclination in the transition zone of the hysteresis loop, were analyzed experimentally. The results of analysis were used in designing leaf springs with smaller inclination in the transition zone, and then the tests were carried out with these leaf springs. It is known that the dynamic spring characteristics of leaf springs is mainly related to the gradient of the diagonal of load-deflection hysteresis loop, that is diagonal spring rate. The diagonal spring rate is inversely proportional to the amplitude, of the deflection approximately and consequently, at very small amplitude, it reaches to the maximum inclination in this transition zone.