Racing bicycle tyres – Influence on mechanical characteristics of internal pressure, vertical force, speed and temperature

The paper describes how internal pressure, vertical force, speed and rolling surface temperature may affect the mechanical characteristics of a road racing bicycle tyre. The results were obtained from an experimental test campaign performed with VeTyT, a test-rig specifically designed for measuring the mechanical characteristics of bicycle tyres. The static deflection of tyre for different inflation pressures and vertical loads was measured to determine the static tyre vertical stiffness. Results for tyre rolling on flat track or on a drum were compared. Dynamic analyses were focused on evaluating the effect of inflation pressure and vertical load, for two rims featured by different lateral stiffness. Then, the respective effects of speed and of temperature of the rolling surface on the lateral force were considered. Stiffer rims can ensure higher values of cornering stiffness. In addition, higher inflation pressure is recommended only for heavy vertical loads. For low vertical loads, too inflated tyre results to be less performant, i.e. to show lower values of cornering stiffness. The speed can affect the mechanical characteristics of bicycle tyres mainly for slip angles less than 1.5°, while the temperature of the rolling surface is the most affecting parameter for slip angles larger than 3°.