For characterizing polymer modified binders, different state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) use a variety of laborious and empirical Performance Grade (PG) "Plus" test methods such as elastic recovery (ER) and tenacity. However, the effects of elastomeric and/or plastomeric polymers are not been accurately identified through these conventional tests. The main research goal of this study is to recommend alternative test method(s), which can be pursued by using a, commonly available, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). To this end, efficacies of test methods such as multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), elastic recovery using a DSR (ER-DSR), linear amplitude sweep (LAS), and binder yield energy test (BYET) were explored in this study. Also, a viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model was developed to characterize the fatigue cracking of asphalt binders. Two types of polymer modified binders from ten sources approved by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) were evaluated in the laboratory. Test results and analyses suggest that without risking the suppliers or users, either the ER-DSR or MSCR test can be a good replacement of the ER test method. A new ER-DSR binder grading system has been proposed. Among the selected fatigue tests, the BYET results were found to be highly related to fatigue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]