Which PG is associated with high-volume, heavy-load traffic?

• A. PG 64-22
• B. PG 58-34
• C. PG 82-22
• D. PG 76-22

Answer: (D)

High-volume, heavy-load traffic stresses the asphalt binder at hot pavement temperatures, so you need a binder that stays stiff and resists rutting. In the PG system, the first number is the high-temperature grade—the higher that number, the better the binder resists softening under heat. Among the options, the designation with the highest high-temperature value is the one that provides the strongest resistance to deformation under heavy traffic, making it the best match for such conditions. The -22 as the low-temperature grade indicates reasonable cold-weather cracking resistance for many climates. While an even higher high-temperature grade exists in other contexts, the 76-22 designation offers the appropriate balance for high-volume, heavy-load traffic in typical practice.