Patent ID: 7308390

Claim:
A computer implemented method for estimating tire/wheel performance by simulation comprising making a tire/wheel assembly model which is a finite element model of an assembly of a wheel and a tire mounted thereon, simulating the tire/wheel assembly model which is rolling under a given rolling condition, getting an estimated data which indicates performance or a characteristic of the tire, wheel or the assembly, from the rolling simulation; wherein said making of the tire/wheel assembly model includes making a tire model which is a finite element model of the tire, making a wheel model which is a finite element model of the wheel, and combining the tire model and the wheel model into the tire/wheel assembly model through a simulation of tire mounting; and said simulation of tire mounting comprises applying a force to the tire model to deform the tire model such that a bead width of the tire model becomes less than a rim width of the wheel model, putting the deformed tire model around the wheel model, removing the applied force from the deformed tire model, and applying a force to the tire model as a pressure to the inside of the tire model to simulate the tire model which blows up with the bead portions contacting with the wheel model; and displaying the estimated performance data on a display device to develop a tire profile and/or a rim based profile.