Abstract
A method that, disregarding the effects of vehicle dynamics and the change of vehicle speed in a short period of time, presented by F Uffelman, is used to predict the turning behaviours of three- and four-wheel vehicles in acceleration and in braking. A tyre mechanicsmodel developed by Dugoff, Fancher, and Segal is used. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rollover resistance, oversteer/understeer, and the sliding of wheels. The effects of the drive arrangements are also discussed. The results indicate that a proper engineered three-wheel vehicle can be as stable as a properly engineered four-wheel vehicle. (A)