Investigation of Low Frequency Interior Noise due to Tyre-Road Interaction

Unlike internal combustion engine (IC Engine) vehicles, the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market demands tyres with superior yet often conflicting performance characteristics. The increased weight of EVs, due to their heavy batteries, necessitates robust tyres with reinforcement and higher inflation pressure. Conversely, increased wear due to higher initial torque and the need for lower rolling resistance to extend range, combined with the requirement for better grip for improved handling, call for advanced compound and tread pattern designs. EV tyres need to be stiffer, lighter, and less dampened, making it very hard to reduce low-frequency (20-200 Hz) interior noise that was previously hidden by engine noise. This study investigates the low-frequency (20-200 Hz) structural-borne interior noise performance of EV tyres using both experimental and simulation tools. By wisely tuning the tyre's stiffness, mass, and damping properties, the necessary noise targets can be met. These findings can help tyre development engineers devise more effective and quicker noise reduction strategies for EVs with minimal compromise on other tyre performance aspects.