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Varying truck tire pressure to match different operational modes can enhance vehicle performance, particularly in the areas of traction and driver comfort. Variable central tire inflation systems allow the driver to vary tire pressure while operating the vehicle. Pressure selection should assure an optimum tire deflection and footprint for each operating condition: loaded vs unloaded, highway vs off-road. Such optimization can actually improve tire performance, although there can be tradeoffs in the area of long term casing life. Proper tire pressure selection is critical.

All vehicle inputs to pavement are transmitted through tires. An understanding of pavement damage, therefore, requires an understanding of the role of the tire. This paper presents basic tire mechanics and discusses tire to pavement contact stresses. Determining the pavement damage potential of various tire/load/pressure combinations is of particular interest to pavement designers. In the past, attention has been focused on the load and pressure of particular tires without regard to their utilization. Herein is presented a new concept which incorporates the frequency of use of tires of interest since pavement damage is cumulative and results from multiple passes. It is logical then to focus attention on the most widely used highway tires, many of which are running overinflated. Specialty tires do not generate as many pavement cycles and, therefore, may not be detrimental to pavements even though they may require higher inflation pressures.