Road Surface Bulk Water Drainage—A Theoretical Study

Abstract A theoretical approach to bulk water drainage properties at the tire/road surface interface for a freely rotating tire is presented. The results show that it is possible to optimize the road surface macrotexture conditions (aggregate size, aggregate spacing, and absolute texture depth) to give the minimum time for removal of bulk water from the interface yet give the maximum possible actual area of contact between the tire and road surface to obtain the maximum possible friction levels.