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In 2001 the FKFS (Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines, Stuttgart) took into operation state-of-the-art 5-belt systems for road simulation in the 22.45m2-IVK automotive wind tunnel and in the 1.65m2-IVK model wind tunnel. In these systems, a narrow belt running between the vehicles' wheels is fitted with 4 balance-mounted wheel rotation drives and a vehicle restraint system. The FKFS opted for MTS steel belt technology due to its small size, low power requirements and excellent tracking stability. Due to air bearings below the belt, the flat-belt wheel rotation units in the full-scale wind tunnel permit aerodynamic force measurements at full wheel load (8 kN) up to 70 m/s. In combination with the hydrostatic suspension of the units, integrated longitudinal force transducers permit realistic measurements of the wheels' rolling resistance. In the model wind tunnel FKFS wheel rotation units with Poly-V belts are used with small wheel loads up to 80 m/s.

This paper introduces a driving-torque measurement method for the determination of vehicle road load and its components. To increase the accuracy, the torque measurements are combined with rolling resistance measurements performed with a specially developed trailer. This method is a strictly experimental approach and does not use any mathematical models. The experimental techniques are described as well as the proceedings to compare test stand and road measurements. The results that are shown prove that this method is suitable for the investigation of single road load components. Furthermore, the comparison of different rolling resistance measurement devices shows the potential of the measurement trailer and the necessity to perform rolling resistance measurements on real road surfaces and not solely on test stands.