The　generalized　Maxwell　(GM)　constitutive　model　has　been　widely　applied　to　characterize　the　viscoelastic　properties　of　asphalt　mixtures.　The　parameters　(Prony　series)　of　the　GM　are　usually　obtained　via　interconversion　between　a　dynamic　modulus　and　relaxation　modulus,　and　they　are　then　input　to　a　finite　element　model　(FEM)　as　viscoelastic　parameters.　However,　the　dynamic　modulus　obtained　with　the　common　loading　mode　only　provides　the　compressive　and　tensile　properties　of　materials.　Whether　the　compression　or　tensile　modulus　can　represent　the　shear　properties　of　materials　related　to　flow　rutting　is　still　open　to　discussion.　Therefore,　this　study　introduced　a　novel　method　that　integrates　the　Kriging　model　into　the　genetic　algorithm　as　a　surrogate　model　to　determine　the　viscoelastic　parameters　of　an　asphalt　mixture　in　rutting　research.　Firstly,　a　wheel　tracking　test　(WTT)　for　AC-13　was　conducted　to　clarify　the　flow　rutting　development　mechanism.　Secondly,　two　sets　of　the　AC-13　viscoelastic　parameters　obtained　through　the　optimization　method　and　the　dynamic　modulus　were　used　as　inputs　into　the　FEM　simulation　of　the　WTT　to　compare　the　simulation　results.　Finally,　a　sensitivity　analysis　of　viscoelastic　parameters　was　performed　to　improve　the　efficiency　of　parameter　optimization.　The　results　indicating　the　viscoelastic　parameters　obtained　by　this　method　could　precisely　characterize　the　development　law　of　flow　rutting　in　asphalt　mixtures.　©　2023　by　the　authors.