Have you just resurfaced your driveway with a fresh layer of asphalt? Or maybe a new coat of sealant? Or maybe you are a business owner who just finished building a new commercial parking lot? Either way, you may start to notice tire marks as business or traffic picks up. Tire scuff marks are a common occurrence on newly paved or sealed asphalt, and for many reasons. Before you pick up the phone to talk to your paving company, it’s a good idea to do some more research and find out why tire marks are showing up on freshly paved asphalt in the first place. Read on to find out what causes asphalt tire scuffing and gain a better understanding of what to expect from your pavement.
tire wear
Fortunately, there’s no need to panic about tire marks, as they will eventually fade after a few months. There are a number of reasons why freshly paved or sealed asphalt is subject to tire wear, but they can all be narrowed down to five specific ones. If you have questions about any of these causes, feel free to contact your paving company afterwards to discuss them in detail. They can provide you with expert information, answers, and advice on asphalt paving, sealing, and more. For now, start by reviewing the 5 most common factors that cause tarmac tire marks, below.
1. The era of pavement – New pavement, or pavement with a fresh coat of sealer, is more susceptible to tire scuff marks as it is still soft and pliable. As it hardens, the tire marks begin 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 of hardening of the asphalt after its placement. Hot weather will slow down the curing process, keeping the pavement soft and pliable a bit longer than usual. And we already mentioned that soft pavement allows for tire marks. That’s why most paving jobs are done in the fall and winter, when temperatures are cooler and pavement cures 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 braking, 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 scuff marks on new pavement. Most standard tires can and will make this happen, but tires with aggressive tread patterns, steel-belted radials, and off-road trucks and SUVs will ensure it.
5.Type of asphalt – The type of asphalt will also influence the probability that the tires will scratch on new pavement. The coating aggregate is less likely to scratch, whereas a thin coat of sealer will.
