Question

What is the recommendation on loading the vehicle for not toppling easily? If a vehicle topples while turning, which wheels leave the contact? Why? How does it affect the tyres? What is the recommendation for this?

Answer 1

Overloading or improper load distribution on the roof can raise a vehicle’s centre of gravity, increasing the risk of rolling over. When installing a roof rack, consider the weight limit. Rollover accidents indicate that vehicles with higher h (e.g. SUVs, pickup vans, and trucks) are more likely to tip over than cars. Untripped rollovers happen when a top-heavy vehicle tries to do a panic manoeuvre that it cannot handle.

If a vehicle topples while turning, inner wheels leave the contact.

When turning, shear stress affects the tyre-road contact area. This causes tyre treads and sidewalls to deform. This leads to uneven, increased wear on the tyre shoulder, as well as reduced control. Each wheel has a tiny inward inclination (known as camber) in the vertical plane. When a car rolls under high lateral acceleration, the camber angle maintains full contact with the road and affects the wheels' vertical position. This improves the car's cornering behaviour. Improperly inflated and worn tyres can hinder vehicle control and pose a significant risk. Worn tyres can lead vehicles to slide sideways on wet or slippery pavement, increasing the chance of a rollover.

To prevent uneven wear on the tyre shoulders, rotate them every 10000-12000 kilometres. To prevent sliding, rollover, and tyre degradation, avoid relying on friction for centripetal force during cornering. Instead, bank the road surface near a bend (tilt it inward).