In this work, fretting maps of various surface modifications were established based on sliding transition criteria. Analyses of bulk material fretting maps are performed as a reference. It was found that anodising treatments induce shifts of all sliding domains especially the one relative to the mixed regime. The fretting fatigue resistance of the coatings was analysed according to the features of the fretting maps of the coatings. The results confirm that fretting maps of materials are effective tools to predict the fretting fatigue properties of substrates and surface-modification coatings. In addition, impact of friction coefficient and correlation with sliding transition is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.