Experimental study on friction coefficients between tire tread rubber and ice

The tire tread pattern affects driving significantly on icy roads, and different kinds of rubber pattern mean different friction coefficients when moving on the ice surface. Based on the latest friction test rig, a simulation method of such tests was created. Therefore, the continuous sampling at low slip velocity was proposed. During the sampling, the typical pattern of the rubber specimen was employed. The friction test of the tire tread specimen on the ice surface was implemented with different slip velocities and pressure, and the results were fitted and analyzed. To research the effect of tire tread on the friction coefficient, the rubber ratio parameter (the ratio of the rubber contact area to the total contact area) was given for proper evaluation. It is found that rubber as the major component of the tire possesses a special friction property, which is against Coulomb’s law. In addition to that, the friction coefficient of rubber is influenced by the contact state to a great extent, especially in some extreme conditions. The experiment of rubber friction on ice can serve as an important reference for the study on tire mechanical properties.