TYRE WEAR TESTS ON AN OPEN GRADED MACADAM RUNWAY FRICTION COURSE.

Aircraft trials were made to evaluate tyre wear on the northsouth runway at Farnborough, after resurfacing with an open graded macadam friction course. A Meteor Mk.7 aircraft equipped with low pressure tyres was used for the trials, which involved landings on the surface, under dry conditions, with maximum braking applied. For comparison, similar trials were made on the main runway, which had a grooved asphalt wearing course and was used as a reference surface. Thirty five landings were made on each surface. Comparison of wear by two methods, measurement of groove depth, and loss of tyre weight, indicated that the wear was about 8-10 lower on the open graded surface, under the conditions of the test. Author