Deformation of an inflated bicycle tire when loaded

TL;DR

This paper models the deformation of an inflated bicycle tire under load, deriving a mathematical relationship that aligns well with experimental data, enhancing understanding of tire behavior under various loads.

Contribution

The paper introduces a simplified theoretical model for tire deformation that accurately predicts deflection under load, validated by experimental results.

Findings

Deflection follows a power law with load, approximately F ∝ d^(3/2) for small loads.

The theoretical model agrees well with experimental measurements.

Provides a basis for predicting tire deformation in practical applications.

Abstract

The deformation of a loaded bike tire has been analyzed with a model consisting of a toroid of thin inextensible walls mounted on a central rim. If the tire radius is much shorter than the rim radius, the deflection, d, of the tire can be calculated as a function of the applied load, F. The solution can be approximated to a power law dependennce F proportional to d^(3/2) for small loads. The theoretical predictions compare well with the experiments carried out on two bicycle tires.