Natural rubber bearings possess distinct advantages over alternative metal roller types, being easier to install, free from corrosion and requiring no maintenance, factors important in the economics of bridge building. In use, natural rubber has proved superior to all other rubbers as bridge bearing material.

The performance of natural rubber bearings is determined by the highly suitable physical properties of natural rubber; it retains its designed stiffness at low temperatures better than alternative, more expensive, synthetic rubber and it has low creep, high strength and excellent fatigue resistance.