Increased truck tire inflation pressures have been perceived as a major contributor to premature wheelpath rutting of asphalt concrete (ac) pavements. Consequently, a critical evaluation was conductedof available information pertaining to heavy-vehicle tire inflationpressures and related characteristics as they influence ac pavementperformance, particularly premature wheelpath rutting. However, thecollection, review, and evaluation of literature and information extended into the larger subject area of vehicle-tire-pavement interaction. A large number of documents plus personal interviews and discussions were reviewed to provide the basis for the critical evaluation. The essential findings are that (a) recent increases in truck tire inflation pressures are not the primary cause of premature ac pavement rutting, (b) high tire-pavement contact pressures can influencewheelpath rutting of ac surface courses, (c) improvements in ac mixdesign offer the best potential for minimizing wheelpath rutting, and (d) the wide variations in vehicle-tire configurations significantly influence ac pavement performance. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1307, Pavement analysis, design, rehabilitation, and environmental factors 1991.
Abstract