The behavior of an asphalt‐concrete under tensile stress has been studied using a nonlinear viscoelastic model previously proposed. Laboratory tests for the determination of mechanical properties of asphalt‐concrete have been performed at constant temperature of 20°C. For the loading range used in the tests, the constitutive equation has been found to be represented adequately by a three‐term polynomial. The inadequacy of the theory of linear viscoelasticity for characterizing asphalt‐concrete is demonstrated. A close agreement between the experimental results and the response predicted by the nonlinear model has been obtained. The similarities and differences of asphalt‐concrete behavior in tension and in compression are discussed.