In investigating the wear phenomena there is often a need for studying the wear process on the basis of variable parameters (microstructure, surface roughness, load). With a thorough set of tests we have developed a simple experimental method, by which the wear behaviour can be evaluated on a single specimen depending on the local coordinates. The method is based on the socalled gradient technique and by which it becomes possible to examine the effects of the locally changing parameters and perform comparative tests. Throughout the tests we evaluated the progress of the wear process by measuring the dimensional changes of the Vickers hardness indentations, which were placed prior to the tests. To produce a microstructure, which continuously varies as functions of local coordinates we used traditional Jominy specimens. The experimental results demonstrate that the influence of the locally changing microstructure on the mechanism of the wear process can be successfully evaluated with the developed gradient method.