Owing to increased demands concerning functionality, reliability and economic feasibility of tribological systems, tribological sliding materials are facing their performance limits. Purely empiric improvements can’t fulfil these rising needs. To meet these demands, the whole tribological system comprising of sliding material combinations and lubricant reactions, needs to be investigated and optimized accordingly. In practice this characterization is realized mainly by means of tribometric examinations. In this study, the functionality and performance of aluminium based tribological systems was investigated wherein, two primary goals were defined. On the one hand the tribological functionality of individual phases in an aluminium based material came to fore. While on the other hand, the applicability of potential alternatives to steel in the tribological system was investigated. Ring on disc test configuration was considered as an analogous model for the tribological system. The experimental studies were conducted keeping in consideration the typical operating conditions of tribological systems. The key features of interest here being the running-in behaviour, stable operation and load bearing capability. To elucidate the processes underway at the mating interface during tribological testing, subsequent surface characterization of specimen was carried out. Based on the tribometric data results and the insights obtained from the surface analysis, functional models describing the tribological characteristics of selected materials were developed. These models provide useful information concerning the optimizations of such materials for meeting the ever-growing tribological demands. Significant differences between the individual systems, as well as the effect of individual parameters on these systems, were reported. Overall, it is emphasised that the used test and analysis methods are well suited for this mode of tribological investigations.