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This paper employs a hybrid numerical method combining the differential transformation method (DTM) and the finite difference method (FDM) to analyze the nonlinear dynamic behavior of a rigid rotor supported by a micro gas bearing system (MGBS). It is shown that the results obtained for the orbits of the rotor center are in good agreement with those obtained using the traditional FDM approach. Moreover, the hybrid method avoids the divergence problem suffered by the FDM scheme at low values of the rotor mass and computational time step. The results presented in this study summarize the changes which take place in the dynamic behavior of the MGBS as the rotor mass and bearing number are increased over the ranges 0.01-0.16 and 1.0-5.0, respectively, and therefore provide a useful insight into the nonlinear dynamics of the bearing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]