Abstract: The intricate tire structure and hyperelastic materials such as rubber significantly impact the accuracy and computational speed of finite element models for tires. This stands as a crucial consideration in the tire modeling process. To ensure rapid computation of the finite element model for tires after matching with the entire vehicle, an exploration of simplified finite element model approaches is conducted. This involves constructing a linear material-based finite element model for tires and achieving equivalent processing of the model. Constructing a detailed finite element model for tires, conducting simulation analyses of stiffness characteristics and ground interaction properties, and validating the effectiveness of the detailed model through experimental and simulation comparisons. Three simplification approaches are proposed for the detailed tire model: solid element modeling, a hybrid model combining solid and shell elements, and a hybrid model combining solid and beam elements. Linearization of nonlinear materials is applied to these models. The inflation-induced lateral deformation, inflation-induced radial deformation, and radial load indentation are calculated using linear materials for the three equivalent models. Sensitivity analysis of material parameters based on deformation is conducted to obtain the optimal equivalent model. The results indicate that the equivalent model’s ground contact imprint and ground pressure, when compared with the detailed model, exhibit deviations within acceptable limits, confirming the accuracy of the equivalent model. The comparison of computational time between the equivalent model and the detailed model verifies a noticeable improvement in computational efficiency for the equivalent model. Furthermore, the feasibility of substituting the equivalent model for the detailed model is confirmed through a comparison of various modal orders between the two models. The proposed equivalent model provides a simplified approach for complex tire finite element simulations, offering a modeling simplification strategy. It serves as a tire modeling method for overall vehicle finite element simulations.