By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Rolling resistance comes from deformation of the wheel and surface rather than sliding. It is proportional to the normal force through the rolling resistance coefficient, which is typically much smaller than a sliding friction coefficient.
Rolling resistance force and power for a moving wheeled load.
F = C_rr · m · g · cos θ P = F · v
Typical C_rr values are 0.01 for car tyres on asphalt, 0.03 for gravel and 0.1 or more for soft ground.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| C_rr | Rolling resistance coefficient (dimensionless). |
| m | Mass, in kilograms. |
| θ | Slope angle. |
| v | Speed, in metres per second. |
| F | Rolling resistance force, in newtons. |
| P | Power to overcome rolling resistance, in watts. |
The force is 98.07 N. Holding 20 m/s takes 1,961 W, or about 2.63 hp, on top of aerodynamic drag.
Continue with the Sled Ride Calculator, SUVAT Calculator, or the Terminal Velocity Calculator — or browse more kinematics tools and all physics calculators.
No. It comes from tyre and surface deformation at the contact patch, while aerodynamic drag comes from air resistance and grows with speed squared.
Results are computed from the standard equations of classical mechanics. Unit conversions use the SI definitions published by NIST. Air resistance is ignored unless the calculator names a drag model.
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Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026