Analysis of the Suitability of 3D-Printed Road Surface Replicas for Laboratory Testing of Rolling Resistance

This study investigates the influence of the method and materials used for creating road surface replicas on the evaluation of rolling resistance using the oscillatory method. While casting resin is commonly employed for this purpose, the research explores 3D printing as a viable alternative. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, replicas of three road surfaces with differing rolling resistance characteristics were created using both techniques. The conventional resin-based replicas served as a reference. A range of tires—summer, winter, and all-season—were tested on the prepared samples. The results were compared to evaluate the consistency between the two replica fabrication methods and to determine the suitability of 3D-printed surfaces as substitutes for those made with casting resin.