This paper presents a comparative study on motor characteristics with specific consideration of radial vibration force in interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSM) according to pole/slot combinations. Three IPMSM models, 16-pole/15-slot design, 16-pole/18-slot design and 16-pole/24-slot design are built, in which 16-pole/15-slot and 16-pole/18-slot designs provide high winding factor and 16-pole/24-slot design is known as a general pole/slot combination. By coupling finite element analysis (FEA) with equivalent circuit method, motor characteristics, back electro-motive force (Back-EMF), inductances, cogging torque, etc. as well as machine output performances are analyzed and compared. The radial vibration force (RVF) distribution in air gap causing stator vibration and noise is interested. It is expected that this study help with appropriate choice of pole/slot combination in IPMSM design.