A method of analysis of suspension performance has been developed and is supported by experimental evidence. The particular advantage of this analysis is that all the suspension characteristics of real suspensions are calculated for all possible positions of the suspensions in a manner which relates the wheel movements directly to the body motions. The roll centre concept is discarded, with the result that the wheel movements, and hence tyre forces, which were masked by the limitations of the roll centre assumptions, are now available for examination and inclusion in any vehicle study. This has resulted in the development of more realistic models of vehicle ride and handling including anti-dive attitudes and other phenomena.