Patent ID: 8452578

Claim:
A method for simulating tire noise performance using a computer, the method comprising: using the computer to perform a step of setting, using a finite number of elements, a tire model having a tread model portion provided with at least one tread groove; using the computer to perform a step of setting a road surface model using a finite number of elements; using the computer to perform a step of carrying out a rolling simulation to roll the tire model on the road surface model at least over a groove-grounded rolling distance where the tread groove is grounded on the road surface model and rolled; using the computer to perform a step of acquiring a surface coordinate value of the tread model portion in the groove-grounded rolling distance in a time-series manner; using the computer to perform a step of setting a sound space region around the tread model portion, the sound space region having a shape changing based on the acquired surface coordinate value of the tread model portion; and using the computer to perform a step of carrying out an aerodynamic simulation using the sound space region, wherein the sound space region comprises an inner groove region corresponding to an inner space of the tread groove and another region as a main region surrounding the tire model; and wherein the simulation method further comprises the following steps performed using the computer: a first simulation step of carrying out the aerodynamic simulation with both the inner groove region and the main region being deformed during the aerodynamic simulation; a second simulation step of carrying out the aerodynamic simulation with the inner groove region being deformed and the main region being unchanged during the aerodynamic simulation; and a calculating step of impact noise performance by subtracting noise performance obtained in the second simulation from noise performance obtained in the first simulation.