Why Tire Temperature Matters More Than You Think: New Insights into Speed, Load, and Inflation Pressure

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Automotive tires are the only vehicle components that maintain continuous contact with the road, making their mechanical and thermal performance essential for driving safety, vehicle stability, energy efficiency, and service life. As modern vehicles operate at increasingly higher speeds under diverse environmental conditions, tires experience greater thermal and structural stresses that can accelerate material degradation and compromise durability. Although previous studies have examined tire temperature, load, or inflation pressure separately, understanding their combined influence under realistic operating conditions remains a significant engineering challenge. This research addresses that gap through advanced numerical simulation, providing practical insights into localized temperature distribution, tire durability, and operating conditions that can support safer vehicle operation, more efficient tire maintenance, and improved engineering design.

Bibliographic Information

Item Information
Article Title Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability
Authors Vu Hai Quan, Tran Quang Tam, Nguyen Trong Duc, Le Hong Quan, Tran Phuc Hoa, and Kirill Evgenievich Karpukhin
Journal Innovation in Engineering
Volume & Issue Volume 3, Issue 1
Publication Year 2026
Pages 1–10
DOI https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41
Publisher Researcher and Lecturer Society
License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

1. Research Background

  • Automotive tire performance directly influences road safety. Tires are responsible for transmitting braking, steering, and driving forces while supporting the vehicle load. Their performance depends heavily on maintaining appropriate thermal and mechanical conditions during operation.
  • Heat generation is an unavoidable consequence of tire-road interaction. Friction between the tire and the pavement continuously produces heat, especially during high-speed driving. Excessive temperature accelerates rubber degradation, increases the likelihood of pressure loss, and may shorten tire service life.
  • Operating conditions simultaneously affect tire behavior. Vehicle speed, vertical load, and inflation pressure interact to determine contact area, stress distribution, and localized heat generation. Evaluating these factors independently provides only a partial understanding of tire performance.
  • Localized temperature distribution remains insufficiently understood. Previous studies have frequently emphasized average tire temperature or investigated only one operating parameter at a time. Less attention has been given to thermal hotspots that develop in critical tire regions under combined loading conditions.
  • Tropical operating environments create additional engineering challenges. High ambient and road surface temperatures increase thermal loading on passenger vehicle tires, making proper tire pressure management increasingly important for safety and durability.
  • Numerical simulation offers an efficient alternative to extensive physical testing. Advanced finite element analysis enables engineers to investigate coupled thermal and mechanical responses under controlled operating conditions while reducing experimental cost and development time.
  • The study focuses on a widely used passenger vehicle tire. The Bridgestone ECOPIA EP150, designed for fuel-efficient passenger cars, serves as the case study to evaluate how realistic driving conditions influence tire temperature distribution and durability.
  • The research fills an important engineering gap. By integrating the combined effects of vehicle speed, load, and inflation pressure into a three-dimensional thermo-mechanical simulation, the study provides a more comprehensive understanding of localized thermal behavior than conventional analyses based solely on average temperature.
  • The findings support engineering decision-making. Understanding where heat accumulates and how operating parameters influence structural response provides valuable guidance for tire design, maintenance practices, and safer vehicle operation under various environmental conditions.

2. Research Objectives

  • To investigate how vehicle speed influences the temperature distribution within the Bridgestone ECOPIA EP150 tire under realistic operating conditions.
  • To evaluate the combined effects of inflation pressure and vertical load on localized temperature accumulation and tire thermo-mechanical behavior.
  • To analyze the relationship between operating conditions, contact area, equivalent stress, and tire durability using three-dimensional numerical simulation.
  • To identify operating conditions that minimize localized heat generation while maintaining favorable structural performance and durability.
  • To demonstrate the effectiveness of finite element simulation as a predictive engineering tool for evaluating tire performance and reducing reliance on extensive experimental testing.
  • To provide practical recommendations for tire pressure management and vehicle operation, particularly under high-temperature and tropical climate conditions.

3. Why This Research Matters

  • Enhances vehicle safety. Understanding localized tire heating enables engineers and drivers to reduce the risk of excessive thermal loading that may contribute to premature tire failure during operation.
  • Improves tire durability. Identifying operating conditions that limit heat accumulation helps extend tire service life by reducing thermal degradation and mechanical fatigue.
  • Supports engineering design optimization. The numerical findings provide valuable information for designing tires with improved thermal management and more uniform stress distribution.
  • Promotes predictive engineering analysis. The study demonstrates how finite element simulation can evaluate complex thermo-mechanical interactions before physical prototype testing, reducing development time and engineering costs.
  • Contributes to sustainable transportation. Better tire operating conditions can reduce unnecessary tire replacement, improve rolling efficiency, and support more sustainable vehicle operation through longer component lifespan.
  • Provides guidance for maintenance practices. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining appropriate inflation pressure and managing vehicle loading to achieve safer and more efficient tire performance.
  • Benefits tropical and high-temperature regions. Since elevated environmental temperatures intensify tire heating, the findings are particularly relevant for countries where vehicles routinely operate under hot climatic conditions.
  • Strengthens automotive engineering research. By examining the combined influence of speed, load, and inflation pressure instead of isolated variables, the study contributes a more integrated understanding of tire thermo-mechanical behavior.

4. Research Methodology

  • Research Type

    The study employed a quantitative engineering approach using three-dimensional coupled thermo-mechanical numerical simulation. Instead of relying on physical testing alone, the researchers used finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate how vehicle operating conditions influence tire temperature distribution, structural stress, contact characteristics, and overall durability. This simulation-based approach enables comprehensive evaluation under controlled and repeatable operating conditions.

  • Research Object

    The investigation focused on the Bridgestone ECOPIA EP150 passenger-car tire with a specification of 205/55R16. This tire was selected because it is widely used in everyday passenger vehicles and is designed to provide fuel efficiency while maintaining reliable driving performance. The simulation evaluated its thermo-mechanical behavior under representative operating conditions.

  • Theoretical Foundation

    The thermal analysis was based on established heat transfer theory. Airflow around the rotating tire was characterized using the Reynolds number, while convective heat transfer was determined through the Dittus–Boelter correlation for turbulent flow. The calculated Nusselt number was subsequently used to determine the convective heat transfer coefficient applied throughout the numerical simulation.

  • Simulation Software

    Numerical simulations were performed using Ansys Workbench 2025 with a coupled-field transient solver capable of simultaneously calculating thermal and mechanical responses. This integrated environment allowed temperature evolution, structural deformation, and stress distribution to be evaluated within a unified computational framework.

  • Geometric Modeling

    A three-dimensional geometric model of the Bridgestone ECOPIA EP150 tire was constructed according to its actual technical specifications. Prior to simulation, the geometry was carefully inspected to eliminate inconsistencies that could affect numerical stability or computational accuracy.

  • Mesh Generation

    A predominantly hexahedral finite element mesh was generated because this element type provides improved numerical stability for rubber-based structures subjected to coupled thermo-mechanical loading. The global element size was set at approximately 10 mm, resulting in about 18,484 elements and 63,880 nodes. Local mesh refinement was introduced in the tire shoulder and tire-road contact regions where temperature gradients and stress concentrations were expected to be highest.

  • Mesh Independence Verification

    The researchers conducted a mesh independence assessment by comparing simulation results obtained from finer and coarser meshes. Because variations in temperature and stress remained within acceptable engineering limits, the selected mesh configuration was considered sufficiently accurate while maintaining computational efficiency.

  • Boundary Conditions

    The simulation incorporated realistic operating conditions by defining tire material properties, contact interaction with the road surface, inflation pressure, vertical loading, rotational motion, and thermal boundary conditions. Convective heat transfer between the tire surface and surrounding air was also included to simulate heat dissipation during vehicle operation.

  • Experimental Variables

    Three primary operating variables were investigated:

    • Vehicle speed of 60, 80, and 90 km/h.
    • Inflation pressures of 30 psi and 34 psi.
    • Vertical loading corresponding to approximately 80% and 100% of the tire load capacity.

    These variables were systematically combined to evaluate their individual and interactive effects on tire temperature distribution and structural response.

  • Performance Indicators

    Several engineering responses were evaluated throughout the simulations, including:

    • Localized temperature distribution.
    • Average tire temperature.
    • Temperature at the critical shoulder region (Node 7162).
    • Equivalent (Von Mises) stress.
    • Tire-road contact area.
    • Overall thermo-mechanical behavior associated with tire durability.
  • Data Analysis

    Simulation outputs from different operating scenarios were compared to determine how speed, inflation pressure, and load affect thermal accumulation, stress development, and contact behavior. Relationships among these variables were interpreted to identify operating conditions that minimize localized heating while maintaining acceptable structural performance.

  • Validation Strategy

    The numerical methodology was established using published thermo-mechanical tire studies and validated through mesh independence analysis. Rather than relying solely on average temperature, the investigation emphasized localized temperature accumulation in critical tire regions, providing a more detailed interpretation of thermo-mechanical performance.

5. Key Findings

Localized Heating Occurs Primarily in the Tire Shoulder Region

The numerical simulations consistently identified the tire shoulder as the location experiencing the highest thermal loading during vehicle operation. While the center of the tread maintained relatively stable temperatures, the shoulder region accumulated heat more rapidly because of repeated deformation and greater frictional interaction with the road surface.

This observation demonstrates that evaluating only average tire temperature may underestimate potential thermal risks. Monitoring localized hotspots provides a more realistic assessment of tire operating conditions and helps identify regions that are more susceptible to long-term material degradation.

Vehicle Speed Significantly Increases Localized Temperature

Increasing vehicle speed from 60 km/h to 90 km/h produced a substantial rise in temperature at the critical shoulder region. The temperature recorded at the monitored node increased progressively as rotational speed became higher, indicating stronger hysteresis losses and greater heat generation within the rubber material.

Interestingly, the average tire temperature changed only slightly despite the increase in speed. This finding indicates that higher vehicle speeds mainly intensify localized heating rather than uniformly increasing the temperature of the entire tire structure.

Proper Inflation Pressure Effectively Reduces Thermal Accumulation

The simulations showed that maintaining the recommended inflation pressure of 34 psi reduced localized temperature more effectively than operating at 30 psi, particularly under moderate loading conditions. Higher inflation pressure limited excessive tire deformation, resulting in a smaller contact area and reduced frictional heat generation.

The benefit of appropriate inflation pressure became less pronounced under maximum loading because structural deformation increased considerably. Nevertheless, the results clearly indicate that correct tire inflation remains one of the most effective methods for controlling localized thermal buildup.

Load and Inflation Pressure Interact to Influence Tire Performance

Vehicle load alone did not entirely determine tire temperature. Instead, the interaction between load and inflation pressure governed how heat accumulated within the tire. Under lower loading conditions, increasing inflation pressure produced a much larger reduction in localized temperature than under full loading.

These results demonstrate that tire operating conditions should be evaluated as an integrated system rather than treating speed, load, and pressure as independent variables. Proper pressure management becomes increasingly important as loading conditions change.

Stress Remains Within Safe Structural Limits

Equivalent stress increased as both vehicle load and inflation pressure became higher. However, the calculated stress values remained within the elastic operating range of the rubber material throughout all simulated conditions, indicating that the tire structure maintained adequate mechanical integrity.

The findings suggest that thermal effects, rather than structural overstress, represent the more critical factor affecting tire durability within the investigated operating range.

Moderate Loading Combined with Standard Inflation Pressure Provides the Most Favorable Operating Condition

Among the evaluated scenarios, the combination of moderate loading and the recommended inflation pressure generated the lowest localized temperature while maintaining favorable contact characteristics and structural response. This operating condition reduced excessive deformation and limited thermal concentration in the shoulder region.

The study therefore emphasizes that maintaining appropriate inflation pressure together with avoiding unnecessary overloading represents an effective strategy for improving tire durability, driving safety, and long-term operational efficiency.

6. Scientific Contribution

  • Advances the understanding of localized tire thermo-mechanical behavior. Unlike many previous studies that primarily evaluated average tire temperature, this research emphasizes localized temperature accumulation in critical regions, particularly the tire shoulder. This perspective provides a more realistic understanding of thermal behavior associated with durability and operational safety.
  • Integrates multiple operating variables within a single numerical framework. The study simultaneously evaluates the combined influence of vehicle speed, inflation pressure, and vertical load instead of examining these parameters independently. This integrated approach offers a more comprehensive representation of real driving conditions.
  • Demonstrates the capability of coupled thermo-mechanical finite element simulation. By combining thermal and structural analyses within one computational model, the research illustrates how numerical simulation can predict tire behavior under complex operating conditions while reducing dependence on extensive experimental testing.
  • Provides engineering evidence for tire pressure optimization. The simulation results identify operating conditions that minimize localized heat generation while maintaining acceptable structural performance, contributing to a better understanding of inflation pressure management for passenger vehicle tires.
  • Expands engineering knowledge regarding tire durability. The research distinguishes between thermal effects and structural stress, demonstrating that localized heat accumulation may become a more critical durability concern than equivalent stress within the investigated operating range.
  • Offers a practical computational methodology for future tire studies. The modeling procedure, mesh verification strategy, and coupled-field simulation workflow provide a reproducible engineering framework that can be adapted for evaluating other tire types, vehicle categories, or operating environments.

7. Industrial Implications

  • Supports safer tire operation. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining appropriate inflation pressure and avoiding excessive loading to reduce localized overheating that may shorten tire service life.
  • Improves tire maintenance strategies. Maintenance personnel and vehicle operators can use the results to establish better inspection schedules and tire pressure management practices, particularly for vehicles operating under demanding environmental conditions.
  • Assists tire manufacturers during product development. Knowledge of localized temperature distribution enables engineers to optimize tread geometry, carcass design, and rubber compounds to improve thermal resistance and durability.
  • Enhances simulation-driven engineering. Automotive manufacturers can integrate thermo-mechanical finite element analysis into product development workflows to evaluate tire performance before prototype production, reducing both development cost and testing time.
  • Supports fleet management. Commercial transportation companies may use the findings to optimize tire inflation practices and loading conditions, reducing maintenance costs while improving operational reliability.
  • Promotes sustainable transportation. Better tire operating conditions contribute to longer tire lifespan, lower material consumption, reduced waste generation, and improved energy efficiency through optimized rolling performance.
  • Contributes to automotive engineering education. The study demonstrates how numerical simulation can be applied to analyze complex engineering phenomena and provides an excellent example for teaching finite element analysis in vehicle engineering programs.
  • Supports digital engineering practices. The successful implementation of simulation-based evaluation aligns with Industry 4.0 principles by encouraging greater use of computational modeling in automotive product design and engineering decision-making.

8. Research Limitations

  • The investigation was conducted entirely through numerical simulation. Although finite element analysis provides detailed engineering insights, experimental validation under real driving conditions would further strengthen confidence in the simulation results.
  • The study focused exclusively on one passenger-car tire model, namely the Bridgestone ECOPIA EP150. Consequently, the numerical results should not be generalized directly to other tire designs, sizes, or construction types without additional evaluation.
  • Only three primary operating variables—vehicle speed, vertical load, and inflation pressure—were investigated. Other factors that may influence tire behavior, such as road surface roughness, ambient temperature variation, braking events, and steering maneuvers, were beyond the scope of this research.
  • The simulation assumed simplified operating scenarios with constant driving conditions. Dynamic vehicle maneuvers and continuously changing loading conditions were not included in the computational model.
  • Material aging, tread wear, and long-term degradation mechanisms were not incorporated into the numerical analysis. Consequently, the predicted durability reflects short-term operating behavior rather than the complete service life of the tire.
  • The research concentrated on thermo-mechanical performance and did not evaluate other important tire characteristics such as rolling resistance, fuel economy, vibration, or acoustic performance.

9. Future Research Opportunities

  • Conduct full-scale experimental validation to verify localized temperature distribution predicted by numerical simulation.
  • Investigate additional tire models, vehicle categories, and tire construction materials to evaluate the general applicability of the proposed simulation methodology.
  • Examine the influence of transient driving conditions, including acceleration, braking, cornering, and emergency maneuvers, on tire thermo-mechanical behavior.
  • Integrate environmental variables such as ambient temperature, road surface temperature, humidity, and different pavement materials into future simulation models.
  • Study long-term durability by incorporating tread wear, rubber aging, fatigue damage, and repeated loading cycles into thermo-mechanical analyses.
  • Develop digital twin models capable of continuously monitoring tire operating conditions using real-time sensor data and predictive numerical simulation.
  • Investigate advanced tire materials and composite rubber formulations that improve thermal resistance while maintaining structural flexibility.
  • Apply artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to predict tire temperature evolution and durability under complex operating environments.
  • Evaluate tire behavior in electric vehicles, where higher vehicle mass and instant torque may introduce different thermo-mechanical loading characteristics.
  • Combine thermo-mechanical simulation with lifecycle assessment to evaluate environmental sustainability throughout the operational lifetime of automotive tires.

10. Potential for Public Policy Citation (Overton)

This article demonstrates moderate potential for citation within public policy and technical guidance documents because it addresses an important engineering issue related to vehicle safety, tire maintenance, and transportation efficiency. The findings provide scientific evidence regarding the combined influence of speed, load, and inflation pressure on tire temperature distribution, supporting recommendations for safer vehicle operation and preventive maintenance.

The research may be valuable for organizations responsible for developing vehicle inspection procedures, road safety campaigns, automotive engineering guidelines, and transportation safety recommendations. Agencies concerned with highway safety and vehicle maintenance could also benefit from the study's practical recommendations regarding tire pressure management and loading practices.

However, the study is primarily a numerical engineering investigation focused on one tire model under controlled simulation conditions. Consequently, although it provides useful technical evidence, broader policy adoption would benefit from additional experimental validation, larger datasets, and investigations covering multiple tire types, vehicle categories, and operating environments.

11. Who Should Read This Paper?

  • Automotive engineering researchers.
  • Mechanical engineers specializing in vehicle systems.
  • Graduate students in mechanical and automotive engineering.
  • Finite element analysis (FEA) researchers.
  • Automotive manufacturers and tire design engineers.
  • Vehicle testing and validation engineers.
  • Commercial fleet operators and maintenance managers.
  • Transportation safety specialists.
  • Researchers working on tire materials and durability.
  • Educators teaching computational mechanics, vehicle dynamics, and automotive engineering.

12. Final Thoughts

This study presents a well-executed numerical investigation into one of the most important issues affecting automotive tire performance: the interaction between thermal behavior and structural response under realistic operating conditions. Rather than evaluating speed, load, or inflation pressure independently, the authors integrate these variables within a coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how localized heat accumulation develops during vehicle operation. The emphasis on temperature distribution in the tire shoulder represents a particularly valuable contribution because localized hotspots often provide more meaningful information about durability than average tire temperature alone.

Another notable strength of the research lies in its practical engineering relevance. The simulation results demonstrate that maintaining the recommended inflation pressure while avoiding excessive loading can significantly reduce localized thermal accumulation without compromising structural performance. These findings offer useful guidance not only for tire manufacturers and automotive engineers but also for vehicle operators seeking to improve safety, durability, and maintenance efficiency.

Although the investigation is limited to numerical simulation and a single passenger-car tire model, the methodology provides a robust computational framework that can be extended to more complex operating scenarios and future experimental validation. As simulation-driven engineering continues to expand within the automotive industry, studies such as this illustrate how advanced numerical analysis can accelerate product development, improve predictive maintenance strategies, and support safer, more sustainable transportation systems.

Suggested Citation

UNP–Teknomekanik Style

Quan, V. H., Tam, T. Q., Duc, N. T., Quan, L. H., Hoa, T. P., & Karpukhin, K. E. (2026). Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability. Innovation in Engineering, 3(1), 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41

APA (7th Edition)

Quan, V. H., Tam, T. Q., Duc, N. T., Quan, L. H., Hoa, T. P., & Karpukhin, K. E. (2026). Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability. Innovation in Engineering, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41

IEEE Style

V. H. Quan, T. Q. Tam, N. T. Duc, L. H. Quan, T. P. Hoa, and K. E. Karpukhin, "Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability," Innovation in Engineering, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2026, doi: 10.58712/ie.v3i1.41 .

Harvard Style

Quan, V.H., Tam, T.Q., Duc, N.T., Quan, L.H., Hoa, T.P. & Karpukhin, K.E., 2026. Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability. Innovation in Engineering, 3(1), pp.1–10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41 .

Vancouver Style

Quan VH, Tam TQ, Duc NT, Quan LH, Hoa TP, Karpukhin KE. Analysis of the influence of some factors on the temperature distribution and tire durability. Innovation in Engineering. 2026;3(1):1–10. Available from: https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41

Chicago (Author–Date)

Quan, Vu Hai, Tran Quang Tam, Nguyen Trong Duc, Le Hong Quan, Tran Phuc Hoa, and Kirill Evgenievich Karpukhin. 2026. "Analysis of the Influence of Some Factors on the Temperature Distribution and Tire Durability." Innovation in Engineering 3 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41 .

MLA (9th Edition)

Quan, Vu Hai, et al. "Analysis of the Influence of Some Factors on the Temperature Distribution and Tire Durability." Innovation in Engineering, vol. 3, no. 1, 2026, pp. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.58712/ie.v3i1.41 .

Editorial Note

Editorial Note: This blog post is an independent scholarly review intended for educational and scientific communication purposes. It summarizes and discusses the published article in the author's own words while providing full attribution to the original publication, consistent with the principles of the CC BY 4.0 license.

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