Investigation on Mechanical and Temperature Characteristics of Self-Supporting Run-Flat Tire During Pressure Relief

Mechanical characteristics of self-supporting run-flat tires (SSRFT), the most widely used type, are important factors affecting the vehicle's stability, safety, and zero-pressure driving ability. This paper takes 225/50RF17 98W SSRFT as the research object, establishes a large deformation nonlinear model, and verifies the model by bench test. Then based on the Finite Element Method, this paper analyzes the change rule of the mechanical and temperature characteristics of SSRFT during the pressure relief and compares with the ordinary tire. The research shows that the load characteristics of SSRFT produce two different tread warpage forms. During the pressure relief, the contact area of SSRFT is about 223.8% larger than that of the rated pressure, but the effective contact area is reduced by about 47.3%. At 50 kPa, the maximum Mises stress increases by about 69.8% compared with the rated pressure, and the uniformity of the ground stress distribution deteriorates. With the decrease of tire pressure, the maximum temperature growth trend of the tire increases. The research results provide a reference for the structural optimization and vehicle dynamic control strategy of SSRFT.