Tyre Modal Analysis And Dynamic Characterization Services

Tyre modal behaviour explains how a tyre vibrates. Every tyre has natural frequencies. It also has mode shapes and damping characteristics. When real driving conditions excite these frequencies, noise and vibration increase. This affects ride comfort and NVH.

Automotive tyre modal testing helps engineers measure these vibration characteristics in a controlled way. The output supports tyre design, vehicle tuning, and simulation validation. It also helps reduce resonance issues that show up as cabin noise, steering wheel vibration, or road noise peaks.

At HASETRI, tyre modal analysis is carried out in an ISO-certified semi-anechoic chamber. The chamber is mechanically and acoustically isolated. This improves measurement repeatability and data quality.

Understanding the Importance of Tyre Modal Analysis in Vehicle Performance

Tyre modal analysis matters because tyres influence both handling and comfort. A tyre is not just a rubber ring. It is a flexible structure. It vibrates under load and road input. Those vibrations can transfer into the vehicle.

Tyre modal analysis helps engineers understand:

• which frequencies are dominant
• how the tyre structure deforms at those frequencies
• how damping affects vibration build-up
• what operating conditions may excite resonance

This information is useful in vehicle performance work because it supports:

• stability and steering feel
• ride comfort and harshness reduction
• noise control at specific speed bands
• better correlation between simulation and test data

When tyre modal behaviour is understood, engineers can make decisions earlier. This reduces later rework in tyre design and vehicle tuning.

Why Conducting Tyre Modal Analysis Improves Ride Comfort and NVH

NVH issues often appear as peaks. A vehicle may feel fine at one speed and get noisy at another. This can happen when tyre modes align with vehicle structure modes or road excitation.

Tyre modal analysis helps reduce this risk by identifying modal frequencies and mode shapes before final validation.

It improves ride comfort and NVH because it helps:

• pinpoint frequency bands linked to road noise
• reduce resonance-related vibration transfer
• support quieter tyre designs and better cavity noise control
• improve troubleshooting when NVH issues appear in testing

Tyre modal data also supports better root-cause analysis. If you know the tyre’s modal frequencies, it is easier to check whether the tyre is the main contributor or whether the issue comes from the suspension or body structure.

Tyre Modal Parameters and Their Role in Vehicle Development

Tyre modal analysis produces specific parameters that engineers use in design and simulation. These parameters help connect tyre behaviour with vehicle performance.

The three main outputs are:

1) Modal Frequencies

These are the natural frequencies at which the tyre tends to vibrate. If road input or vehicle excitation matches these frequencies, resonance can occur. This can increase cabin noise and vibration.

2) Damping

Damping describes how quickly vibration reduces after excitation. Higher damping reduces vibration amplitude. Lower damping allows vibration to persist longer. Understanding damping helps improve comfort and reduce harshness.

3) Mode Shapes

Mode shapes show how the tyre structure deforms at a specific frequency. Different modes can involve tread, sidewall, or belt region movement. Identifying these patterns helps engineers understand structural behaviour.

In vehicle development, these parameters are used to:

• Improve correlation between test and simulation
• Adjust tyre construction or material distribution
• Refine suspension tuning
• Avoid frequency overlap between tyre and vehicle body

Tyre modal data also supports NVH troubleshooting. If a specific frequency band causes concern, engineers can check whether it matches a tyre mode. This speeds up root cause analysis.

By combining experimental tyre modal results with simulation models, development cycles become more efficient. Design changes can be validated earlier. This reduces later corrections during vehicle validation.

Contact us to plan your automotive tyre modal testing and data requirements.

Step-by-Step Process of Tyre Modal Analysis in a Testing Lab

A tyre modal test needs a stable setup and repeatable inputs. This is why controlled facilities are used.

A typical testing-lab workflow looks like this:

Define the test objective:

Decide what needs to be measured. For example, modal frequencies in different directions or comparison across tyre designs.

Prepare the tyre and setup:

Mount the tyre and set the test boundary conditions. Consistent mounting is important for repeatable results.

Instrument the tyre:

Place sensors to capture vibration response at required points.

Excite the tyre and capture response:

Apply controlled excitation and record response signals. Data acquisition systems capture the response across frequency.

Extract modal parameters

Compute modal frequencies, damping, and mode shapes. These are the main outputs of the test.

Compare with simulation if needed

Experimental mode shapes can be compared with finite element results. This improves model correlation and future prediction accuracy.

This is where tyre modal analysis techniques matter. Testing performed through our NABL lab helps ensure accurate vibration measurement without unwanted influence from the surrounding environment or test setup.

Common Challenges and Solutions in Tyre Modal Analysis

Tyre modal analysis can be affected by setup variation and measurement noise. Common issues include:

Challenge: inconsistent mounting conditions

Even small setup changes can shift results.
Solution: use controlled fixtures and repeatable mounting procedures.

Challenge: environmental noise affecting measurement

External vibration and sound can disturb results.
Solution: conduct testing in an isolated environment like a semi-anechoic chamber.

Challenge: unclear mode shape identification

Overlapping modes can make interpretation difficult.
Solution: use proper sensor placement and consistent excitation methods.

Challenge: poor correlation with simulation

A model may not match test data if inputs are wrong.
Solution: use experimental results to update model parameters and boundary assumptions.

These steps help ensure that automotive tyre modal testing gives usable data for engineering decisions.

What is Tyre Modal Analysis and Why is it Important?

Tyre modal analysis is a method used to measure tyre vibration characteristics. It focuses on three outputs:

• modal frequencies
• damping
• mode shapes

This data is important because it explains why certain tyres create more noise or vibration at specific speeds. It also supports simulation work and helps reduce NVH issues before a product is finalised.

Reach out to schedule tyre modal analysis and support NVH and vehicle performance improvements.

High-Precision Tyre Modal Analysis : SAE Standard

The Modal Analysis is a predictive Tool for vibration and structural Engineering. HASETRI's ISO certified Semi Anechoic Chamber houses the facility to conduct Modal Analysis on structures and extract its Modal Parameters- Modal Frequencies, Damping and the Mode Shapes. Tyre Modal Analysis is conducted as per SAE Standard, and the modal frequencies for various directions estimated. The Experimental Mode shapes can be compared with the Finite Element model for the same tyre.

Chamber being mechanically and acoustically isolated from the surroundings makes the measurements reliable and repeatable. Tyre compounds and rubber materials used in construction are also evaluated through our elastomer testing lab to support material characterisation alongside structural testing.