Comparison of roadwheel and roadway noise generated by a mono-pitch tire tread

Tire-pavement interaction noise (TPIN, aka tire-road noise or tyre-road noise) is most efficiently measured in acoustically controlled laboratories with large diameter roadwheels (drums) that have surface treatments which replicate some pavement properties, especially when comparing the acoustic performance of different tires. However, it is not clear how closely the roadwheel replicates the road surface, including differences that include road curvature and mechanical impedance of pavements. On the other hand, measuring on a moving vehicle with a microphone array presents it own set of challenges. In this study, a Nearfield Acoustical Holography (NAH) method is used to measure tire/pavement interaction noise on roadways and roadwheels with similar smooth pavement and rough pavement properties. Sound intensity fields, overall sound power levels, and sound pressure levels are reconstructed very close to the tire surface. An experimental passenger car tire with a mono-pitch tread is used in this study. The experimental tire has three circumferential grooves and 64 equally spaced transverse grooves cut into the tread. Differences in sound fields and levels between roadway and roadwheel test conditions for this tire are shown.