1. What is Wheel Speed?

Wheel speed is the linear velocity at which a point on the circumference of a wheel is moving relative to its center. It's typically measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wheel speed formula:

Where:

• Wheel RPM — Rotations per minute of the wheel
• Wheel Radius — Distance from center to edge of wheel in meters
• 2π — Circumference calculation factor
• 60 — Conversion factor from minutes to seconds

Explanation: The formula converts rotational speed (RPM) to linear speed (m/s) by calculating the distance traveled per rotation (circumference) and scaling to seconds.

3. Importance of Wheel Speed Calculation

Details: Wheel speed calculations are essential for vehicle dynamics, performance analysis, speedometer calibration, and various engineering applications involving rotating machinery.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter wheel RPM (rotations per minute) and wheel radius in meters. Both values must be positive numbers for valid calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I measure wheel radius?
A: Measure from the center of the wheel to the outer edge of the tire, or measure diameter and divide by 2.

Q2: Can I use diameter instead of radius?
A: Yes, but adjust the formula to: (RPM × π × Diameter) / 60

Q3: How to convert m/s to km/h?
A: Multiply m/s by 3.6 to get km/h (1 m/s = 3.6 km/h).

Q4: Does tire wear affect wheel speed calculation?
A: Yes, as tire wear reduces the effective radius, which changes the speed calculation for the same RPM.

Q5: What's a typical wheel speed for vehicles?
A: At 60 km/h (16.67 m/s), a typical car wheel (radius ~0.3m) rotates at about 530 RPM.