Tire and Wheel Rotational Speed Calculation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
A size P235/75R15 tire rotates ONE complete revolution per second (RPS), or 1 Hz, at a vehicle speed of 8 km/h (5 mph). This means that at 16 km/h (10 mph), the same tire will make TWO complete revolutions in one second, 2 Hz, and so on.
- Determine the rotational speed of the tires in revolutions per second (RPS), or Hertz (Hz), at 8 km/h (5 mph), based on the size of the tires. Refer to the Tire Rotational Speed table. For example: According to the Tire Rotational Speed table, a P225/60R16 tire makes 1.08 revolutions per second (Hz) at a vehicle speed of 8 km/h (5 mph). This means that for every increment of 8 km/h (5 mph) in vehicle speed, the tire's rotation increases by 1.08 revolutions per second, or Hz.
- Determine the number of increments of 8 km/h (5 mph) that are present, based on the vehicle speed in km/h (mph) at which the disturbance occurs. For example: Assume that a disturbance occurs at a vehicle speed of 96 km/h (60 mph). A speed of 96 km/h (60 mph) has 12 INCREMENTS of 8 km/h (5 mph): 96 km/h (60 mph) divided by 8 km/h (5 mph) = 12 increments
- Determine the rotational speed of the tires in revolutions per second, or Hz, at the specific vehicle speed in km/h (mph) at which the disturbance occurs. For example: To determine the tire rotational speed at 96 km/h (60 mph), multiply the number of increments of 8 km/h (5 mph) by the revolutions per second, or Hz, for one increment: 12 increments X 1.08 Hz = 12.96 Hz, rounded to 13 Hz
- Compare the rotational speed of the tires at the specific vehicle speed at which the disturbance occurs, to the dominant frequency recorded on the J 38792-A during testing. If the frequencies match, then a first-order disturbance related to the rotation of the tire/wheel assemblies is present. If the frequencies do not match, then the disturbance may be related to a higher order of tire/wheel assembly rotation.
- To compute higher order tire/wheel assembly rotation related disturbances, multiply the rotational speed of the tires at the specific vehicle speed at which the disturbance occurs, by the order number: 13 Hz X 2, for second order = 26 Hz second-order tire/wheel assembly rotation related 13 Hz X 3, for third order = 39 Hz third-order tire/wheel assembly rotation related If any of these computations match the frequency of the disturbance, a disturbance of that particular order, relating to the rotation of the tire/wheel assemblies and/or driveline components, also rotating at the same speed, is present.