Abstract- In this paper tribological characteristics of solid and liquid phase sintered W/C-35%Ni tappets were investigated. Three test methods were performed to investigate the wear and surface damage mechanism of sintered tappets. First, block-on-ring wear test was performed to investigate the wear characteristics under pure sliding condition. Second, simplified cam and tappet tests (called component wear test hereafter) were carried out to simulate the real contact history of cam and tappet. Also, after the test, contact surfaces were analyzed with scanning electron microscope to study the wear mechanism. As a final screening, engine dynamo tests were performed. Results showed that in the block on ring sliding wear test, solid phase sintered specimens showed superior wear resistance to liquid phase sintered specimens. The component wear tests and engine dynamo tests also showed the same results. Therefore, in these tests, solid phase sintered tappet material revealed superior wear resistant properties to liquid phase sintered one.