The Fleeting Tire Footprint

The new ASTM-E17 specification on the Standard Pavement Skid Test Tire is explained, along with examples of how the standard tire is used today. Traction characteristics of the tire footprint and the adhesion-hysteresis concept of the mechanism of rubber friction is discussed.

Examination of wet pavement traction test data, covering different designs and compounds on a wide range of road surfaces, disclose that the basic road surface is far more important than any variation in design or compound.