Tyre/road noise at low speeds

With the introduction of a significant number of electric and hybrid road vehicles into the traffic flow the importance of tyre/road noise in comparison to engine noise increases also at low speeds below 50 km/h. For this reason the influence of urban pavements on the noise generation of road vehicles with virtually absent engine noise needs to be investigated. Traditionally research into tyre/road noise focuses more on speeds above 50 km/h where a large body of expertise and practical experience is available. This paper reports on measurements of the typical road traffic noise emission of different urban pavements at traffic speeds below 50 km/h using the CPX method. The results contribute to a better understanding of how the acoustic characteristics of tyre/road noise at low speeds influence the future soundscape in urban areas and the perception by pedestrians, adding to road safety.