Thermally refined steel rollers were fatigue-tested under varying specific sliding conditions using a newly developed specific sliding varying-type contact roller testing machine to which an eccentric gear mechanism was applied. The test results were discussed in relation to factors such as specific sliding and frictional torque changes. The surface durability of the roller under a varying specific sliding condition was lower than that under a constant specific sliding condition. The surface durability under a condition where specific sliding was negative on a non-uniform velocity roller was lower than that under a condition of negative specific sliding on a uniform velocity roller. The pitting easily occurred in the negative specific sliding region under high tangential force and at the deceleration process of the rotating roller.