[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Contrast that to your Death Valley, which ranges between +30 to 160 - that’s only a 130 degree variation (20 degree less variation). When that asphalt expands and contracts - it’s gotta go somewhere

???

The only way this would matter is if the asphalt was laid during the dead of winter or if it somehow gains asphalt 'volume' when it contracts.

If it were laid in the spring or summer, then the amount of expansion during the heat of the summer months would be minimal.

Since asphalt is not a living, breathing entity, no new asphalt 'cells' are added when it contracts. So, it's the same amount of asphalt during the entire 12 months of a year.

[nascarnation]

Good points.
The other thing is sunshine.
You can easily have asphalt 40F above ambient if the solar load is right.