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.

Noise is one of the most important environmental problems related to road traffic. During the last decades, the noise emitted by the engines and powertrains of vehicles was greatly reduced and tires became a clearly dominant noise source. The article describes the concept of low noise poroelastic road surfaces that are composed of mineral and rubber aggregate bound by polyurethane resin. Those surfaces have a porous structure and are much more flexible than standard asphalt or cement concrete pavements due to high content of rubber aggregate and elastic binder. Measurements performed in several European countries indicate that such surfaces decrease tire/road noise between 7 dB and 12 dB with respect to reference surfaces such as dense asphalt concrete or stone matrix asphalt. Furthermore, poroelastic road surfaces ascertain the rolling resistance of car tires, which is comparable to classic pavements. One of the unforeseen properties of the poroelastic road surfaces is their ability to decrease the risks related to car fires with fuel spills. The article presents the road and laboratory results of noise, rolling resistance, and fire tests performed on a few types of poroelastic road surfaces.

The paper presents results of tyre/road noise and rolling resistance measurements performed on stone mastics asphalt (SMA) that contains rubberised asphalt, developed and produced by a refinery in Poland. Bituminous binder was modified with polymer and addition of crumb rubber. The first observations of asphalt mixture with the new kind of modified bitumen used on the field section are presented. Rolling resistance of passenger car tyres was measured by test trailer R² Mk.2. Tyre/road noise was measured by a Tiresonic Mk.4 trailer using the close proximity method. Measurements were performed for 50 and 80 km/h and the results obtained on test and reference sections covered with conventional SMA 11 were compared.

Tire/road noise in most driving conditions dominates other sources of traffic noise. One of the most efficient ways of reducing tire/road noise is to use the so-called “low noise pavement”. According to numerous studies, at present, poroelastic road pavement that is composed of rubber and mineral aggregate and polyurethane or bituminous binder gives the best noise reduction up to 12 dB. Unfortunately, there are many problems with making durable poroelastic pavements. This article presents the first results of a project that is executed in Poland and aims at the development of a durable, low noise poroelastic pavement based on polymer-modified asphalt binder called Safe, Eco-friendly POroelastic Road Surface (SEPOR). Two test sections were built in 2019 to test the production technology and performance of the SEPOR pavement. It is observed that some of the problems with previous poroelastic materials were mainly eliminated (especially delamination from the base layer and raveling) but noise reduction is a little less than expected (up to 9 dB). Rolling resistance for car tires is acceptable and fire properties (damping of spill fuel fires, toxic gas emission) are very good.