Master’s in Motorcycle Tyre Engineering (Grip, Thermal and Wear Models)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in motorcycle tyre engineering (grip models, thermal behaviour, wear). 12 modules covering construction, compounds, contact mechanics, forces and moments, Magic Formula grip models, thermal behaviour, wear, dynamics, testing, racing and regulations, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Motorcycle Tyre Engineering (Grip, Thermal and Wear Models) — studying from Malta
Malta has a strong culture of two-wheeled transport, with scooters and motorcycles widely used given the island's dense traffic and limited parking. This has created a steady market for dealerships, workshops and parts suppliers serving riders. Engineers interested in 2-wheelers can find roles in servicing, technical support and the importation of vehicles and components. Opportunities also arise in electric scooter and light mobility, which are gaining attention in urban policy discussions.
Fees for Malta: €6,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Does a SEIUM qualification count for regulated vehicle engineering in Malta?
Vehicle type approval and homologation in Malta follow EU frameworks administered through the Transport Malta authority. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by any national body. Whether they are recognised for particular roles is decided by employers or the relevant body, so it is worth confirming before enrolling.
What career opportunities for 2-wheeler engineers exist in Malta?
Malta has a small market for motorcycles and two-wheelers, mainly through dealerships, importers, servicing and parts supply. Opportunities are limited compared with larger countries, so many professionals work in adjacent areas such as electronics or design. Employers decide how much value they place on a private online qualification, so direct conversations with them are advisable.
Is the programme workload manageable alongside work, and is employer funding possible?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English. Hours range from 300 for specialist courses to 1,900 for master's programmes, so choose according to the time you can commit. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and each student has an assigned technical tutor for guidance.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the construction and materials of motorcycle tyres.
Explain force generation at lean and under slip.
Fit grip models to test data.
Model the thermal behaviour of the tyre.
Analyse wear and degradation mechanisms.
Apply tyre and rim regulations.
Develop a complete tyre model for motorcycle simulation.
Who it's for
- Tyre engineers at manufacturers and suppliers.
- Tyre modelling engineers working on simulation.
- Compound development engineers.
- Tyre test engineers in labs and on track.
- Racing performance engineers.
- Team tyre technicians looking for a stronger engineering basis.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join tyre manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- UNECE Regulation No. 75 (pneumatic tyres for L-category vehicles)
- ETRTO Standards Manual (European tyre and rim technical standards)
- ISO 4249-1 (motorcycle tyres and rims, code-designated series)
- ISO 5751-1 (motorcycle tyres and rims, metric series)
- ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics vocabulary and axis systems)
- ISO 10191 (tyre performance verification test methods)
- ASTM F1806 (tyre testing practice)
- FIM Grand Prix Regulations (technical rules for road racing)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- MF-Tyre/MF-Swift
- Abaqus
- BikeSim
- MoTeC i2 Pro
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Radial and bias-ply carcass1.2Belts and reinforcement plies1.3Bead and rim1.4Rounded profile and its function1.5Dimensions and designations1.6Road, track and off-road tyres1.7Rain tyres1.8Tubeless tyres1.9Marking and UNECE Regulation No. 751.10Case study: reading a tyre sidewall
2.1Natural and synthetic rubbers2.2Carbon black and silica2.3Vulcanisation process2.4Multi-zone tread compounds2.5Viscoelasticity and glass transition temperature2.6Dynamic stiffness and DMA testing2.7Hysteresis and grip2.8Rubber ageing2.9Sustainable rubber compounds2.10Laboratory: DMA test of a compound
3.1Contact patch and pressure3.2Variation with lean angle3.3Grip through hysteresis and adhesion3.4Carcass stiffness3.5Dry and wet friction3.6Aquaplaning and water evacuation3.7Influence of inflation pressure3.8Deformation and effective radius3.9Contact patch measurement3.10Practical exercise: contact patch measurement at different angles
4.1Camber force4.2Slip angle force4.3Longitudinal force and slip4.4Tyre self-aligning moment4.5Overturning moment4.6Twisting moment4.7Combined longitudinal and lateral forces4.8ISO 8855 axis systems4.9Measurement on test machines4.10Case study: analysis of lateral force curves
5.1Magic Formula for motorcycles5.2Coefficients and their meaning5.3Least-squares fitting5.4Brush models5.5Transient MF-Swift models5.6Force relaxation5.7Physical and empirical models5.8Validation with vehicle data5.9Model limitations5.10Laboratory: Magic Formula fitting in MATLAB
6.1Heat sources in the tyre6.2Surface and core temperature6.3Operating window6.4Use of tyre warmers6.5Multi-node thermal models6.6Thermography on track6.7Effect of hot pressure6.8Cooling on the straight6.9Thermal strategy in races6.10Practical exercise: three-node thermal model
7.1Abrasion mechanisms7.2Graining and blistering7.3Sliding wear7.4Compound degradation7.5Depth and mass measurement7.6Rolling road bench tests7.7Wear models7.8Influence of riding style7.9Tyre management in races7.10Laboratory: accelerated wear test
8.1Tyres and weave stability8.2Tyres and wobble8.3Steering response8.4Influence on braking in corners8.5Influence on traction control8.6Stiffness and comfort8.7Interaction with the suspension8.8Complete vehicle simulation8.9Pressure sensitivity8.10Workshop: stability study with different tyres
9.1Flat-track machines9.2Test trailers9.3Drum tests9.4High-speed tests9.5Carcass strength tests9.6Wet grip tests9.7On-track instrumentation9.8Bench-to-track correlation9.9Test repeatability9.10Case study: test plan for a sports tyre
10.1Single supplier and allocations10.2Regulatory minimum pressures10.3Compound selection by circuit10.4Management of warmers and temperatures10.5Reading used tyres10.6Tyre telemetry10.7Race strategy10.8Rain and intermediate tyres10.9Safety and failures10.10Practical exercise: compound choice for a grand prix
11.1UNECE Regulation No. 7511.2ETRTO technical manual11.3ISO rim series11.4Replacement tyres and equivalences11.5Labelling and traceability11.6Tyres for electric motorcycles11.7Recycling of end-of-life tyres11.8Wear particles and the environment11.9Renewable materials in tyres11.10Case study: type approval of a new size
12.1Tyre selection and application12.2Review of available data12.3Force model12.4Thermal model of the system12.5Wear model12.6Integration into motorcycle simulation12.7Validation with data12.8Usage recommendations12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, MF-Tyre/MF-Swift, Abaqus, BikeSim and MoTeC i2 Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures: fitting a Magic Formula model for a motorcycle tyre, infrared tread temperature measurement on track, and a wear test on a rolling road bench. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNECE Regulation No. 75, ETRTO Standards Manual, ISO 4249-1, ISO 5751-1, ISO 8855, ISO 10191, ASTM F1806, FIM Grand Prix Regulations.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MATLAB/Simulink, MF-Tyre/MF-Swift, Abaqus, BikeSim and MoTeC i2 Pro, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme's software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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