Road texture influence on tyre rolling resistance

Abstract

Tyre performance, one of the critical factors for vehicle users, is strongly related to the road surface characteristics, most notably to the pavement texture. Phenomena that occur at the tyre/road interface affect tyre friction (skid resistance), rolling resistance, tyre wear and tyre/road noise. This article deals with relationship between surface texture and rolling resistance of light and heavy vehicle tyres. Mean profile depth (MPD) is one of the most common descriptors of road surfaces and in many studies it is correlated with rolling resistance of tyres. Results of measurements performed by the Technical University of Gdańsk show that although the correlation exists, it is not very strong and regression between MPD and rolling resistance is not linear. The key reason for this is partial enveloping of the tyre tread interacting with pavement texture. The article presents results of laboratory and road measurements of rolling resistance performed on road surfaces characterised by MPD from 0.20 up to 4.75 mm and the correlation of the rolling resistance coefficient with MPD. Certain aspects of texture enveloping and influence of this phenomenon on rolling resistance are discussed.

Keywords:

• tyres
• rolling resistance
• texture
• measurements

ORCID

Jerzy A. Ejsmont http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5280-2185

Additional information

Funding

Research work reported in this article was sponsored by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) within the SPB project ROLRES [Grant Agreement PBS1/A6/1/2012] and by NCBR and the European Commission within 7th FP ‘ROSANNE’ [Grant Agreement 605368].