What is the rolling resistance coefficient (Crr)?

Crr is a dimensionless number that represents the fraction of a vehicle's weight that acts as a horizontal resistive force due to tire deformation and road deformation. A lower Crr means less energy lost to rolling. Typical passenger car tires on asphalt have Crr values between 0.010 and 0.015; off-road sand can exceed 0.30.

What is the rolling resistance formula?

Rolling resistance force F = Crr × N, where N is the normal force. On flat ground, N = m × g (mass in kg times 9.81 m/s²). Power lost to rolling resistance is P = F × v, where v is speed in m/s.

How does rolling resistance affect fuel consumption?

Every 10% reduction in Crr saves roughly 1–2% of fuel for a typical passenger car at highway speeds. At low speeds rolling resistance dominates the road load; at high speeds aerodynamic drag becomes more significant. This tool estimates fuel impact using a simplified road-load model assuming a drivetrain efficiency of 30%.

What Crr value should I use for my car tires?

Standard passenger car tires on smooth asphalt typically have Crr between 0.010 and 0.015. Low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tires reach 0.006–0.010. Use the preset table in this calculator to select a value matching your surface and tire type.

Does the calculator account for road grade or acceleration?

No. This calculator assumes flat, level ground and constant speed. Grade resistance and inertial forces are separate components of total road load and are not included here.

Rolling Resistance Calculator

Enter vehicle weight, speed, and rolling resistance coefficient to compute rolling resistance force, power loss, and estimated fuel consumption impact.

Input Parameters

Vehicle Weight

Vehicle Speed

Rolling Resistance Coefficient (Crr) (dimensionless)

Typical range: 0.003 (racing slick) to 0.35 (loose sand). Click a row in the table below to auto-fill.

Results

Enter values and click Calculate

Crr Preset Reference Table

Click any row to auto-fill the Crr field above.

Surface / Tire Type	Crr (typical)	Notes
Racing slick (asphalt)	0.003	Formula-style slick tires, smooth track
Road bicycle (high pressure)	0.007	Clincher or tubular at 100+ psi
Low-rolling-resistance car tire	0.010	Eco/LRR labeled passenger tire
Standard car tire (smooth asphalt)	0.013	Typical passenger vehicle on highway
Car tire on concrete	0.015	Slightly rougher than smooth asphalt
Truck tire (loaded, asphalt)	0.020	Radial truck tires, fully loaded
Mountain bike (gravel/dirt)	0.040	Knobby tires on packed gravel
Car tire on gravel/dirt road	0.060	Unpaved loose surface
Tractor / off-road (soft soil)	0.100	Agricultural tires on soft ground
Vehicle on loose sand	0.300	Beach or desert driving, very high drag

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Summary

Enter vehicle weight, speed, and rolling resistance coefficient to compute rolling resistance force, power loss, and estimated fuel consumption impact.

How it works

Enter the vehicle weight and select the unit (kg or lbs).
Enter the vehicle speed and select the unit (km/h or mph).
Enter a rolling resistance coefficient (Crr) or click a preset row in the reference table below.
Click Calculate to see rolling resistance force, power loss, and fuel impact.
Use Reset to clear the form and start a new calculation.

Use cases

Estimating tire rolling resistance for passenger cars on asphalt or concrete.
Comparing fuel efficiency impact of different tire types or road surfaces.
Calculating power budget for electric vehicles and bicycles.
Evaluating energy losses in heavy trucks and logistics fleets.
Educational demonstrations of vehicle dynamics and road load analysis.
Benchmarking low-rolling-resistance tires against standard tires.
Estimating drive power requirements for off-road or agricultural vehicles.
Supporting race car setup decisions when optimizing for minimum drag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu