The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Tire load estimation system and method

Abstract:

A tire load estimation system includes at least one tire supporting a vehicle, in which the at least one tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending to a circumferential tread. A sensor is mounted to the at least one tire. A footprint is formed by the tread and includes a centerline with a footprint centerline length. The footprint centerline length is measured by the sensor. A tire load estimator receives a precalibrated sensitivity, the footprint centerline length during straight-line driving conditions, a reference footprint value, and a reference load value as inputs. The tire load estimator determines an estimation of tire load and outputs the estimation to at least one of a vehicle control system and a vehicle electronic control unit. A method for estimating the load of a tire is also provided.