A METHOD FOR DETERMINING INTERFACE CONDITIONS BETWEEN TIRE AND GROUND, PARTICULARLY TO DETERMINE THE ONSET OF AQUAPLANING PHENOMENA

A method is described for determining interface conditions between a tire and the ground in a motor vehicle, particularly to determine an onset of an aquaplaning phenomena. The method includes: determining a reference longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, measuring an actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, calculating a difference between the reference longitudinal acceleration and the actual longitudinal acceleration, determining an additional drag at the interface between tire and ground on the basis of the difference, and a lift at the interface between tire and ground on the basis of the additional drag, and determining a threshold force at which a lifting of the tire from the ground occurs, comparing the lift with the threshold force and determining a degree of proximity of the interface conditions between tire and ground to an aquaplaning condition.