Tire wear marks explained on new asphalt pavement

Did you just pave your driveway with a new layer of asphalt? Or maybe a new coat of sealer? Or maybe you’re a business owner that just finished building a new commercial parking lot? Either way, you may start to notice tire marks as traffic or traffic increases. Tire wear marks are a common occurrence on freshly paved or seal-coated asphalt, and for many reasons. Before you pick up the phone to speak with your paving company, it is recommended to do a little more research and find out why tire marks appear on freshly paved asphalt. Read on to learn what causes asphalt tire scuffing and better understand what to expect on your pavement.

Tire scratches

Fortunately, there is no need to panic over tire marks as they will eventually fade after a few months. There are several reasons why freshly paved or seal coated asphalt is subject to tire scuffing, but they can all be narrowed down to five specific ones. If you have questions about any of these causes, do not hesitate to contact your paving company later to discuss them in detail. They can provide you with expert information, answers, and advice on asphalt paving, seal coating, and more. For now, start by reviewing the 5 most common factors that cause asphalt tire marks, below.

1. The era of pavement – New pavement, or pavement with a new coat of sealant, is more susceptible to tire wear marks, as it is still soft and malleable. As it hardens, the tire marks start to fade. Asphalt requires flexibility to maintain maximum durability, but as it ages, it loses this attribute.

2. Outside temperatures – The time of year affects the speed at which the asphalt hardens after it has been laid. Hot weather will slow down the curing process, keeping the pavement soft and flexible a little longer than usual. And we already mentioned that soft pavement allows tire marks. This is why most paving work is done in the fall and winter, when temperatures are colder and pavement heals faster.

3. Vehicle weight – New asphalt pavement that experiences frequent heavy vehicle traffic, such as trucks, buses, and vans, is more susceptible to tire wear. Stationary 180-degree turns, sudden stops, sharp turns, and trucks with power steering are common causes of tire marks.

4. Type of tires – The type and size of the tires play an important role in the production of wear marks on new pavement. Most standard tires can make this happen, but tires with aggressive tread patterns, steel-belted radial tires, and off-road trucks and SUVs guarantee it.

5. Type of asphalt – The type of asphalt will also influence the likelihood of the tires being scratched on new pavement. Coating aggregate is less likely to scratch, whereas a thin sealing coat will.