Sumitomo Rubber Industries Develops New Technique for Predicting Tire Noise with High Accuracy: Achieves 1% Prediction Error in Evaluating Tire Performance on Irregular Road Surfaces
Dec. 04. 2024
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. is pleased to announce that the company has developed a new simulation method for predicting tire noise on real-world road surfaces with enhanced accuracy. By taking into account the vibration input to the tire caused by road surface irregularities and sound absorption properties of the road, the new technique achieves significantly improved prediction accuracy, with the error between the measured values and predicted values for certain types of tires being approximately 1%*1.
| Measurement teehnique | Measurement with newly developed simulation technique | Measurement of a physical tire on a testing equipment | Measurement with past simulation techniques |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| sound level indicator* | 99 | 100 | 105 |
| * Comparison of total sound pressure level across all frequencies used for measurement | |||
Comparison of measurements for actual tires and computer simulations |
|||
We have recently developed a new simulation method (patent pending) that enhances previous techniques by incorporating new elements. These elements address changes in sound pressure levels caused by road irregularities, which lead to tire vibrations and the absorption of pattern noise. This will further improve the accuracy of prediction of the pattern noise that is caused by tires in real-world settings. The results of simulations were presented at an academic conference, the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan Autumn Congress 2024,*4 under the title “Prediction of Tire Pattern Noise Considering Road Surface Roughness.”
When comparing the simulation results for specific tire types with real-life measurements, the error margin was approximately 1%, significantly lower than the 5% error with earlier methods. This demonstrates that the new technique enables more accurate simulations. Additionally, the computation time has been reduced from a month to approximately one week.
With the establishment of this method, we will be able to develop tires that are even quieter than before. We can also expect shorter lead time for delivery and reduced resource use, as the number of man hours will be reduced for the performance of physical vehicle testing with prototype tires. Furthermore, it may be applied to model-based development.
Illustration: Changes in sound pressure levels according to sound absorption properties of the road
With international regulations on vehicle noise emission (UN R51-03 Phase 3) being implemented in 2024, there is demand for reducing vehicle noise even further. This is especially true for electric vehicles, which are seeing a rise in popularity and demand, a trend that is expected to continue growing. Since they produce no engine noise, the sound from the tires becomes more noticeable by comparison.. Quieter tires are more in demand than ever before.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries has consistently strived to make tires quieter. For instance, we have adopted “Silent Core,”*5 our proprietary technology to reduce tire cavity resonance, or the noise caused by the resonance of air inside the tire. We have also developed a simulation technique*6 for mitigating noise from vibrational interaction between the vehicle and tires. We make use of another proprietary simulation technique*7 in the development of tire shapes that optimizes the aerodynamic performance in the proximity of tires while it moves.
We will continue to strive to advance simulation technologies to meet diverse user needs such as high-performance tires including EV tires and model-based development, while pursuing environmentally friendly tire development through the efficient use of resources
| We unveiled our own unique Circular Economy Concept for the Tire Industry, which we call TOWANOWA,*8 in March of 2023. TOWANOWA features a two-ring structure, with a “Sustainable Ring” consisting of five processes in the value chain and a “Data Ring” linking big data collected from each process. We aim to provide new value by sharing / using data between the two rings. This new simulation technique will allow us to utilize data obtained through the Planning & Design process, making it possible to develop quieter tires with enhanced performance while reducing the use of resources. Through TOWANOWA, the Sumitomo Rubber Group will further accelerate our efforts to promote and practice ESG Management, and contribute to the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050 and the development of a sustainable society. |
 |
※1 Comparison based on total sound pressure level across all frequencies between measurements for actual tires and those obtained in simulation
[Test conditions] ● Tire size: 265/55R20 (test tire) ● Air pressure (kpa): 230 ● Road surface: ISO simulated road surface ● Location: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Tyre Technical Center ● Test method: The tire was rolled on a drum friction tester, and the radiated noise from the tire was measured using a microphone placed near the entry edge of contact patch.
※2 A development style intended for efficient development, which significantly reduces the time and labor necessary for performance design, design, trial manufacture of parts, and tests through the design and development activities focused on a “model” reproduced on a computer instead of an actual prototype part.
※4 2024 JSAE Congress (Autumn) in SENDAI INTERNATIONAL CENTER
※5 Silent Core (specialized noise-absorbing sponges)https://dt.dunlop.co.jp/brand/technology/sponge/
※7 Sumitomo Rubber Develops “Tire Aerodynamic Simulation" ～Essential for Development of Next-Generation EV Tires: Contributing to Elucidating Aerodynamic Characteristics of Tires that Account for Over 20% of Air Resistance of EV～ | Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
※8 Introducing a Circular Economy Concept for the Tire Industry: TOWANOWA | Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.