Soft spots, tire impressions, and dark scuffing on new pavement are common summer complaints. Most are normal early-cure behavior; some indicate a real problem with mix design, compaction, or base preparation. This guide explains how to tell the difference and what to do.
Tender mix: the normal version
Newly placed asphalt remains soft for days to weeks in summer. Hot weather slows the binder cool-down; the surface accepts power-steering scuffs and tire imprints. In most cases the pavement firms up and cosmetic marks fade within 60-90 days.
This is normal. It is not a defect.
Tender mix: the problem version
- Persistent ruts under wheel paths after 30+ days.
- Tire prints that remain crisp through cool nights.
- Mix that crumbles when pressed with a screwdriver after a week.
- Wide variation in surface texture across the lot.
- Aggregate visibly migrating under tire turns.
Likely causes when it is real
- Mix design too rich in binder for the temperature.
- Insufficient compaction during placement.
- Base or subgrade moisture trapped under the new lift.
- Paving over a soft spot that was never repaired.
Want this assessed on your property?
Free written pavement findings from the crew that does the work.
What to document
- Date and time of placement.
- Mix ticket info from the plant.
- Roller pattern and number of passes (ask the contractor).
- Daily high temps for the first two weeks.
- Photos with a ruler showing depression depth.
Reasonable next steps
- If under 30 days: monitor, restrict heavy turning, do not seal.
- If 30-90 days with worsening ruts: request contractor inspection and core sample.
- If clearly defective: enforce warranty before fall.
- If base-related: the fix is excavation, not surface repair.
2026 Commercial Pavement Budget Planner
A contractor-built worksheet for budgeting parking lot and roadway work: cost ranges by scope, a condition-scoring sheet, phasing guidance, a bid-comparison checklist, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Common questions
Should we drive on fresh asphalt right away?+
Light vehicles after 24-48 hours; heavy trucks and dumpsters after 7-14 days in summer. Avoid hard turns on stationary wheels for the first 30 days.
Is power-steering scuffing covered by warranty?+
Usually no — it is cosmetic. Structural rutting and depressions are.
Will the marks really fade?+
Cosmetic ones typically do within the first season. Structural ones do not.
Avello provides free commercial pavement assessments across the Hudson Valley. No obligation — you keep the documentation either way.