Tensile strength (and the tensile strength ratio) is used to determine an asphalt mixture's susceptibility to moisture damage because the tensile strength measurement is directly influenced by the degree of stripping in the specimen.

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Moisture susceptibility is assessed by how moisture conditioning affects the material’s tensile strength. The indirect tensile strength test gives a measure of how well the mix resists cracking under tension. When specimens are conditioned in water, stripping can occur, weakening the asphalt-aggregate bond and reducing the tensile strength. The tensile strength ratio, which compares the conditioned strength to the unconditioned strength, captures this reduction. A lower TSR signals greater moisture susceptibility. Since the tensile strength measurement is indeed influenced by the degree of stripping, using TSR makes sense to gauge moisture damage potential.