1. What is Wheel Speed?

Wheel speed is the linear velocity at which a wheel travels along the ground, typically measured in miles per hour (mph). It's calculated from the wheel's rotational speed (RPM) and its radius.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wheel speed formula:

Where:

• Wheel RPM — Rotations per minute of the wheel
• Wheel Radius — Radius of the wheel in inches
• 2π — Converts radius to circumference
• 60 — Converts minutes to hours
• 12 — Converts inches to feet
• 5280 — Converts feet to miles

Explanation: The formula converts rotational speed to linear speed by calculating how much distance the wheel covers in one rotation (circumference) and then scaling to miles per hour.

3. Importance of Wheel Speed Calculation

Details: Wheel speed calculations are essential for vehicle dynamics, speedometer calibration, gear ratio selection, and performance tuning in automotive applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter wheel RPM (rotations per minute) and wheel radius in inches. Both values must be positive numbers for accurate 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 divide the wheel diameter by 2.

Q2: Does tire wear affect wheel speed calculations?
A: Yes, as tires wear down, the effective radius decreases, which would slightly increase wheel speed for the same RPM.

Q3: How does this relate to vehicle speed?
A: Wheel speed equals vehicle speed unless there's wheel slip (spinning or skidding).

Q4: Can I use this for bicycle calculations?
A: Yes, this formula works for any wheeled vehicle including bicycles, motorcycles, and cars.

Q5: What if my wheel diameter is in millimeters?
A: First convert to inches (1 inch = 25.4 mm) or adjust the formula constants to work with metric units.