ASPECTS OF TYRE ROAD PROPERTIES RELATABLE TO DRIVER COMFORT AND SAFETY

An understanding of the components of tyre and road surface interaction is important when considering aspects of comfort and safety. Road texture plays a critical part in such investigations of tyre and vehicle characteristics as noise, friction, spray generation, tyre wear and fuel economy. The author analyses road surface macrotexture characteristics and its relationship to vibration covering vehicle shake, harshness, road roar and tyre wear. The influence of rolling resistance on fuel consumption is also discussed. Results show that road surface macrotexture has a major influence on rolling resistance coefficient; a reduction of 15% in rolling resistance between standard hot rolled asphalt and delugrip rsm if considered relative to the motorway system would result in an estimated fuel saving of 30m pounds sterling. (TRRL)