Wheel Torque Calculator Tool

Wheel Torque Equation:

\[ \text{Wheel } \tau = \text{Engine } \tau \times \text{Gear Ratio} \times \text{Final Drive} \]

Wheel Torque (τ):

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1. What is Wheel Torque?

Wheel torque is the rotational force delivered to the wheels of a vehicle, calculated from the engine torque multiplied by the gear ratio and final drive ratio. It determines the vehicle's acceleration and towing capability.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wheel torque equation:

\[ \text{Wheel } \tau = \text{Engine } \tau \times \text{Gear Ratio} \times \text{Final Drive} \]

Where:

\( \text{Engine } \tau \) — Engine torque in Newton-meters (Nm)
\( \text{Gear Ratio} \) — Current gear's ratio (dimensionless)
\( \text{Final Drive} \) — Differential ratio (dimensionless)

Explanation: The gear ratio and final drive multiply the engine torque to determine the actual torque delivered to the wheels.

3. Importance of Wheel Torque Calculation

Details: Wheel torque directly affects vehicle performance, including acceleration, hill-climbing ability, and towing capacity. Higher wheel torque improves these capabilities.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter engine torque in Nm (typically found in vehicle specifications), current gear ratio, and final drive ratio. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is wheel torque higher than engine torque?
A: The gearbox and differential multiply the engine torque to increase the force at the wheels, especially in lower gears.

Q2: How does wheel torque relate to horsepower?
A: Horsepower = (Torque × RPM) / 5252 (in imperial units). While torque determines acceleration force, horsepower determines how long you can sustain that acceleration.

Q3: Why do different gears have different torque multiplication?
A: Lower gears have higher ratios to multiply torque for acceleration, while higher gears focus on speed with less torque multiplication.

Q4: Does wheel size affect torque?
A: Larger wheels effectively reduce torque at the contact patch (though the calculated torque remains the same) because the force is applied at a greater radius.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This gives theoretical wheel torque. Actual torque may be slightly less due to drivetrain losses (typically 10-15%).