Investigation of Tire-Road Traction Properties

Tire traction performance is dependent on both the tire design and the road surface on which the tire is operated. Measurement of a tire's traction capabilities is indicative of the performance of the tire-road surface combination. Therefore, it is important that the surfaces used to evaluate tire traction capabilities react in a manner similar to those on which the tire will operate.

This paper presents a method for categorizing road surface traction properties by evaluating the traction performance of road surfaces when tested with a series of special tires. Data are presented on a series of road surfaces and recommendations are made for traction test surface design.