Spoke tension calculator
Choose an included tensiometer and a compatible spoke profile, then enter the readings. The radar and per-spoke results help compare tensions within each side. Check the selected table, calibration and rim limit before using the estimates.
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My tension tables (0)
Bars and colours compare each spoke with the mean of its own side. Check the separate target status too: an even side can still be too low or too high.
No valid readings yet.
Working windows · Left
Park Tool TM-1 · Steel round 1.4 mm · dial reading
| Reference | kgf min–max | Reading min–max |
|---|---|---|
| Target±20% | 88–132 | 13.625–17.642 |
| Side mean±20% | — | — |
Reading limits are rounded inwards to 3 decimals, without extending the calculated band. This is screen precision, not your meter’s resolution. Check its graduations. Limits outside the table are not extrapolated.
| # | reading | kgf | Δ vs mean | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #2 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #3 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #4 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
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| #6 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #7 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #8 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #9 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #10 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #11 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #12 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #13 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #14 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #15 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #16 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — |
0/16 valid readings. Complete or correct this side before using the tuning plan.
No valid readings yet.
Working windows · Right
Park Tool TM-1 · Steel round 1.4 mm · dial reading
| Reference | kgf min–max | Reading min–max |
|---|---|---|
| Target±20% | 88–132 | 13.625–17.642 |
| Side mean±20% | — | — |
Reading limits are rounded inwards to 3 decimals, without extending the calculated band. This is screen precision, not your meter’s resolution. Check its graduations. Limits outside the table are not extrapolated.
| # | reading | kgf | Δ vs mean | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #2 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #3 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #4 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #5 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #6 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #7 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #8 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #9 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #10 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #11 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #12 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #13 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #14 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #15 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — | |
| #16 | — | Δ vs mean: — | Target: — |
0/16 valid readings. Complete or correct this side before using the tuning plan.
Conversion table · Steel round 1.4 mm (dial reading 8-20)
| dial reading | kgf | N |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 54 | 530 |
| 9 | 58 | 569 |
| 10 | 63 | 618 |
| 11 | 69 | 677 |
| 12 | 75 | 735 |
| 13 | 83 | 814 |
| 14 | 91 | 892 |
| 15 | 100 | 981 |
| 16 | 111 | 1089 |
| 17 | 123 | 1206 |
| 18 | 137 | 1344 |
| 19 | 154 | 1510 |
| 20 | 172 | 1687 |
Linear interpolation between points · readings outside 8 to 20 are not extrapolated.
These are estimates: devices drift and brands differ, so check your meter's calibration. The rim maximum is a ceiling, not a target; keep the upper edge of the selected tolerance band at or below it. Symmetric wheel (e.g. a rim-brake front) → other side 100%. Dished wheel → set the other side below 100% or as an absolute kgf. Reference side = the higher-tension side (drive on a rear, rotor side on a disc front).
Bars and colours compare each spoke with the mean of its own side. Check the separate target status too: an even side can still be too low or too high.
How a reading becomes kgf
A tensiometer doesn't read tension directly: it reads deflection, and each device × spoke pair has its own published conversion table. The calculator interpolates within that table and never extrapolates beyond it: an out-of-range reading is flagged, not guessed. Every conversion carries the source and version of the table it came from. The figures are estimates, so check your meter's calibration and re-measure as you build.
FAQ
- What tension should I aim for?
- Use the rim maker's working target when one is published. Its maximum is a ceiling, not a target: set the target and tolerance so the top of the band stays at or below that maximum. The other side isn't chosen independently; the dish fixes it. Set it as a percentage of the reference or as a specific kgf.
- Which side is the reference side?
- The higher-tension one: usually the drive side on a rear wheel or the rotor side on a disc front, but not always. This model assumes half the total spokes (N/2) on each side. With that equal split, the side with the smaller effective bracing angle needs more tension to hold the rim centred. Both sides share the same target (other side at 100%) when the effective geometry is symmetric and the spoke counts match, not simply because a front wheel has a rim brake.
- How even does tension need to be?
- Compare each spoke with its own side’s mean for balance, then check its target band separately. The two tolerances are independent; missing or invalid readings leave a provisional mean. Keep the target band within the rim limit and check true and dish physically. Turn estimates are available only for supported built-in profiles, not custom tables. Re-measure after adjustments.
- My tensiometer isn't a Park Tool. Can I use it?
- The included devices list their sources. For another instrument or exact spoke, open My tables and paste two columns or import CSV, TSV or JSON. Check units, calibration, source and revision before using it. Custom tables stay in this browser; exported builds and share links include the table used. These builds support measurement and comparison, without turn advice or simulator loading.