The　proper　disposal　of　steel　slag　has　always　been　a　great　challenge　for　the　metallurgical　industry　in　China　and　around　the　world.　In　this　work,　the　steel　slag　aggregate　(SSA)　was　surface　pretreated　(PSSA)　and　applied　into　asphalt　mixture.　The　adhesive　behavior　between　the　bitumen　and　five　different　types　of　aggregates　(i.e.,　limestone,　diorite,　diabase,　SSA,　PSSA)　were　evaluated　based　on　the　contact　angle　and　binder　bond　strength　tests.　The　pavement　performance　of　three　asphalt　mixtures　which　contain　normal　aggregate,　SSA　and　PSSA　respectively,　was　analyzed　by　Marshall　stability　test,　wheel-tracking　rutting　test,　low-temperature　bending　creep　test　and　water　sensitivity　test.　The　results　showed　that　surface　modification　can　improve　the　surface　properties　of　SSA,　reduce　its　contact　angle　with　bitumen,　and　eventually　lead　to　the　improvement　of　adhesion　between　them.　In　addition　to　the　satisfied　low-temperature　properties,　PSSA　was　found　to　significantly　improve　the　anti-rutting　property　and　reduce　the　water　sensitivity　of　asphalt　mixture.　This　work　is　expected　to　promote　an　alternative　application　for　recycling　of　SSA　in　pavement　engineering.