The compaction method developed by Proctor is the most used in the world today. The standard NBR 7182/86 (ABNT, 1986), which regulates this test in Brazil, allows four different test methodologies where each provides different structures and porosity of soils. This fact may influence the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of soils, mainly in road pavement layers that under environmental changes, which cause moisture variations in base and sub-base layers. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of the different Proctor test methodologies in the mechanical behavior of soils used in road pavements. The experimental part consisted in the compaction of soil samples, unconfined compression test, tensile strength by diametral compression and the filter paper method to determine the soil water retention curve. From these tests, it was intended to establish correlations between moisture, suction and mechanical strength of the soil. The results demonstrated that variations in moisture and compaction method induce different mechanical behaviors, which could be understood by the relation between suction and water content.