A vehicle does not distribute its entire weight uniformly across the turf.
The load is concentrated around the tire contact patches, and steering or repeated driving introduces additional horizontal forces.
This is particularly important when vehicles:
- Turn sharply
- Accelerate
- Brake
- Reverse repeatedly
- Park in the same position every day
These actions can produce considerably more surface stress than simply walking across the turf.
3. Repeated Compression Can Flatten the Fibers
Artificial turf fibers are designed to bend and recover, but repeated vehicle loading is a different use condition from ordinary pedestrian traffic.
Long-term tire loading can cause:
- Fiber flattening
- Reduced vertical recovery
- Localized matting
- Visible tire tracks
- Increased surface wear
The degree of deformation depends on yarn construction, pile height, tuft density, backing structure and the supporting pavement.
Therefore, Dtex alone cannot determine whether a turf product is suitable for parking.
4. Turning Tires Can Produce Significant Shear
Straight-line parking is relatively different from repeated turning.
When a vehicle turns while stationary or at low speed, the tires generate substantial horizontal friction against the surface. This can increase wear on:
- Artificial turf fibers
- Tuft anchoring
- Backing
- Seams
- The underlying grass-grid system
For a grass parking application, the system should therefore be designed not only for vertical vehicle loads but also for the anticipated traffic and maneuvering conditions.
5. Vehicle Fluids Can Contaminate the Turf
Oil, coolant, fuel and other vehicle fluids can contaminate artificial turf.
Depending on the turf’s polymer, backing and adhesive construction, prolonged exposure to certain chemicals may affect appearance or material performance.
A parking-turf system should therefore have an appropriate maintenance and spill-response plan.
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