Vibration characterization and experimental modal analysis were carried out

with a heavily loaded vehicle tire. These tires are typically subjected to loads that are

over two times those experienced by a passenger car tire. The results obtained

through experimental modal analysis were compared to similar results obtained for

standard passenger car tires. The comparisons show that the heavily loaded tire has

unique dynamic characteristics. Complex damping and nonlinear behavior were

considered to explain these characteristics. A flexible ring tire model was used to

investigate these nonlinear characteristics. Complex damping was also examined to

explain the experimental observations. This thesis contains some of the first results

on vibration characterization of heavily loaded vehicle tires. The incorporation of the

results into a multi-degree-of-freedom tire model for use with the Effective Road

Profile Control scheme used for vehicle durability simulation studies was also

investigated.