New Concepts of Tire Wear Measurement and Analysis

This paper gives a comprehensive analysis of tire tread wear utilizing new experimental and analytical techniques. An explanation of the mechanics of tread wear is postulated and related to tire traction. A differentiation between grip and friction is introduced as an important factor controlling wear and traction, and a quantitative definition and experimental technique for measuring road microtexture and its tread wear effectiveness is proposed. The paper introduces new concepts which provide a basis for quantitative determination of factors controlling tread wear and provide new methods for measuring and calculating tire force energy, road surface abrasiveness, tire wear energy, and severity. Good correlation between tread wear and measured values of tire force severity and tire wear severity are established. A potential method for predictions of tire tread wear on a computer is developed.