Special Tools

Electronic vibration analyzer

1.1.2.1 Determining Tire Revolutions Per Second at 8 km/h (5 mph) -- Using electronic vibration analyzer

Tire and wheel assembly rotational speed can be obtained through using an electronic vibration analyzer. Perform the following steps using an electronic vibration analyzer to obtain the rotational speed at 8 km/h (5 mph). Use the Enter key to advance and the Exit key to backup.

1. On the Main Menu screen, select Auto Mode.
2. On the Suspected Source screen, select Vehicle Speed.
3. On the Tire Info Source screen, select Manual Entry.
4. On the Tire Width screen, enter the specific width of the tires.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, enter 245.

5. On the Aspect Ratio screen, enter the specific aspect ratio of the tires.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, enter 0.45.

6. On the Rim Diameter screen, enter the specific rim diameter size.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, enter 18.0.

7. On the Driveshaft Configuration screen, enter FWD, even if the vehicle is a rear wheel drive.
8. The next screen will display the tire size just entered for confirmation.

For example: 245 0.45 18.0 -Front Wheel Drive. If the tire size displayed is correct, press Enter.

9. On the Vehicle Speed Units screen, press Enter, disregard mph or km/h.
10. Press the Exit key several times slowly while watching the backwards progression of the screens. Stop at the Tire Info Source screen.
11. On the Tire Info Source screen, select RPS at 5 mph.
12. The next screen will display the revolutions per second (RPS) at 8 km/h (5 mph) for that specific tire size.

For example: The P245/45/R18 will display 1.08 RPS.

1.1.2.2 Calculating Tire Revolutions Per Second at 8 km/h (5 mph) -- Without electronic vibration analyzer

If an electronic vibration analyzer is Not available, the tire and wheel assembly rotational speed can be calculated approximately by performing the following steps.

1. Convert the rim diameter size from inches to centimeters.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, the rim diameter of 18 in X 2.54 converts to 45.72 cm.

2. Calculate the radius of the rim by dividing the rim diameter by 2.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, the rim diameter of 18 is converted to 45.72 cm divided by 2 = rim radius 22.86 cm.

3. Calculate the approximate tire sidewall height by multiplying the specific tire tread width by the aspect ratio, then reduce 7% from the amount by multiplying by 93% to approximate load on the tire reducing the sidewall height.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, tread width 245 mm X aspect ratio as a decimal 0.45 = 110 mm X 0.93 = approximate sidewall height 102.30 mm.

4. Convert the calculated approximate tire sidewall height from millimeters to centimeters.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, approximate sidewall height 102.30 mm converts to 10.23 cm.

5. Calculate the approximate tire and wheel assembly radius by adding the rim radius and approximate sidewall height, both in cm.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, rim radius 22.86 cm + 10.23 cm = approximate tire and wheel assembly radius 33.09 cm.

6. Calculate the approximate circumference of the tire and wheel assembly by multiplying 2 X pi, or 6.283185 X the approximate tire and wheel assembly radius.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, 6.283185 X approximate tire and wheel assembly radius 33.09 cm = approximate tire and wheel assembly circumference 207.911 cm.

7. Calculate the approximate revolutions per kilometer by dividing the number of cm in 1 km, 100,000 cm by the approximate tire and wheel assembly circumference.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, 100,000 cm divided by approximate tire and wheel assembly circumference 207.911 cm = approximate revolutions per kilometer 480.975.

8. Calculate the approximate revolutions per second (RPS), or Hz, by dividing the approximate revolutions per kilometer by the number of seconds to travel 1 km at a speed of 8 km per hour, 450 seconds.

For example: For a P245/45/R18 tire, approximate revolutions per kilometer 480.975 divided by the number of seconds to travel 1 km at a speed of 8 km per hour, 450 seconds = approximate RPS, or Hz 1.069 rounded to 1.07.

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.

1. 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 preceding Tire Rotational Speed information.

For example: According to the Tire Rotational Speed information, a P245/45R18 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.

2. 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

3. 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

Note: If an electronic vibration analyzer is not available, compare the calculated rotational speed to the frequency range associated with the symptoms of the vibration concern. Refer to Symptoms - Vibration Diagnosis and Correction.

4. Compare the rotational speed of the tires at the specific vehicle speed at which the disturbance occurs, to the dominant frequency recorded on the electronic vibration analyzer 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.

5. 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.

Utilize the following worksheet as an aid in calculating the first, second and third order of tire/wheel assembly rotational speed related disturbances that may be present in the vehicle.

If after completing the Tire/Wheel Rotation Worksheet, the frequencies calculated do NOT match the dominant frequency of the disturbance recorded during testing, either recheck the data, or attempt to rematch the figures allowing for 1½-8 km/h (1-5 mph) of speedometer error.

If the possible tire/wheel assembly rotational speed related frequencies still do not match the dominant frequency of the disturbance, the disturbance is most likely torque/load sensitive.

If after completing the Tire/Wheel Rotation Worksheet, one of the frequencies calculated DOES match the dominant frequency of the disturbance, the disturbance is related to the rotation of that component group - tire/wheel assembly related.