This article features a field experiment conducted on existing road pavements to characterise macro-and micro-texture variations at actual road conditions and to substantiate links to friction values. Three-dimensional inspections of the wearing course surface of three asphalt mixes were performed during a short period of 9 months. Several statistical texture indicators, spectral analysis and photo-simulated images of surface height maps were employed to analyse macro/micro-texture evolution and to study the physical phenomena behind it. Fractal and non-fractal parameters, with a focus on Hurst exponent (H), were used in associating texture with friction. The results of texture evolution clearly state that changes in macro/microscales occur within full surface profile and not solely from the polishing phenomena of a small percentage of top surface topographies. It was demonstrated that H, as an indicator of full surface profile specification, could not be employed for road texture -friction studies at actual road conditions.

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