Use of Tire Noise as a Measure of Pavement Macrotexture

A procedure is described for measuring the near-field tire noise generated by a treadless tire operating at specified fixed conditions. Analysis of the noise spectra indicates that they are dependent on pavement macrotexture and that certain characteristics of the spectra appear to correlate with skid number-speed gradient as deduced from locked wheel skid tests. Third-octave spectral analyses are shown for a treadless tire operating at 40 mph over seven test surfaces having different macrotextures. A tentative correlation of the sound pressure level of the tire noise for the thirdoctave with center frequency at 1600 Hz, and the skid number-speed gradient is presented. The investigation suggests the feasibility of tire noise measurements as a practical means of pavement skid resistance appraisal in a normal highway traffic environment.