Motorcycle and moped tyres are not subject to Australian design rules, and although an Australian standard (as2230) has been issued to cover motorcycles, it covers neither mopeds nor on/off road tyres as it is enforced by a consumer sales regulation. The data on tyre failures for motorcycles indicates a substantial number of faults after the accident, but few with a causal link to the accident itself. Blow out or puncture failures are the most serious, and the occurrence of tyre - related accidents is highest on motorways where the classic accident of a violation of the motorcycle right of way by another motor vehicle is barely present. On/off road compromise tyres do not appear to be over involved in accidents, and in view of their known lower potential braking forces on pavement this would suggest further investigation of the actual deceleration and acceleration patterns actually used by motorcyclists and moped riders. The need for rims, tyres, and wheels to be covered by standards is identified as the only alternative to a functional test of tyre retention and stability on sudden loss of deflation pressure. In view of the lack of experimental data on motorcycle tyre characteristics a study report on a motorcycle tyre - testing dynamometer in australia is proposed. This paper is the text of an ARRB submission to the house of representatives standing committee on road safety. (Author/publisher)
Abstract