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Calcimator

Wheel Building Tension Calculator

Target spoke tension from rim width and spoke count.

Inputs

Results

Drive-side tension (kgf)

123.4

Non-drive tension (kgf)70.5
Drive-side tension (N)1,210
Non-drive tension (N)691
Dish ratio0.57
Average tension (kgf)96.9
Max variation ±(kgf)6.2
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Spoke count, Rider weight (lbs), and Wheel type (0-3).
  2. Set Rim max tension (kgf), Drive flange offset (mm), and Non-drive flange offset (mm).
  3. Review the Drive-side tension (kgf) result.
  4. Use Non-drive tension (kgf) and Drive-side tension (N) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Rider weight (lbs)

Rider weight (lbs)Drive-side tension (kgf)
8596
173125.6
278130
365130

What each input means

Spoke count
Total number of spokes in the wheel.
Rider weight (lbs)
Rider body weight in pounds.
Wheel type (0-3)
0 = Road front, 1 = Road rear, 2 = MTB front, 3 = MTB rear.
Rim max tension (kgf)
Maximum spoke tension rated by the rim manufacturer.
Drive flange offset (mm)
Hub center to drive-side flange distance in mm.
Non-drive flange offset (mm)
Hub center to non-drive-side flange distance in mm.

What each result means

Drive-side tension (kgf)
Target spoke tension on the drive side in kilograms-force.
Non-drive tension (kgf)
Target spoke tension on the non-drive side in kgf.
Drive-side tension (N)
Drive-side tension converted to Newtons.
Non-drive tension (N)
Non-drive-side tension in Newtons.
Dish ratio
Ratio of non-drive to drive flange offset (1.0 = symmetric).
Average tension (kgf)
Average spoke tension across both sides.
Max variation ±(kgf)
Target maximum tension variation per spoke (±5% of drive side).

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Spoke count = 32, Rider weight (lbs) = 170, Wheel type (0-3) = 1, Rim max tension (kgf) = 130 = 6 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Drive-side tension
    123.4 = 123.4
  3. Calculate Non-drive tension
    Non-drive tension = driveSideTension * dishRatio
    70.5 = 70.5
  4. Calculate Drive-side tension
    Drive-side tension = driveSideTension * 9.80665
    1210 = 1210

Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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