Dark patches under wheels

[Briski]

Hello there, I wonder if you can help me. We have a 2016 Toyota Avensis which is parked on the driveway overnight. The driveway is loose stones / gravel. Today I've noticed some dark discoloration on the drive which appears to coincide approximately with where the four wheels have sat, there are several "sets" - I assume from several different days. I don't notice any strong smell and the darkened gravel doesn't feel too different but of course I wonder if there is a leak of some sort - but at all 4 wheels not just at one point. There is no warning light appearing in the dash. Any ideas?

[dewaltdisney]

It is probably just damp. As the wheels cover that bit of gravel the area around it dries out quicker.

DWD

[Briski]

Thanks for the response; I'll keep my eye on the patches, as of now they are still dark - plus there's several days' worth which I would've expected to dry by now if that was the reason. I hope you are correct though.

[Dave54]

As DWD says, it's most likely damp, and / or some discolouration caused by the road muck like mud and salt that drains off the wheels.
Check the fluids visually under the bonnet every day if you think there is a problem. You should check at least once a week anyway. Don't rely on the lights on the dash.

[Bob225]

any water on the car usually drains in to the wheel arches, The wheel will put indentation in your drive over time an water will collect

nothing to worry about tbh if your that bothered rake the gravel over to fill in the low points

[Briski]

Thanks guys, I think you are right; I brought some of the gravel inside the house where it's warm and it appears to be returning to a lighter colour. I live in Bergen and it's been around zero celsius or below for many days and so I guess stuff takes longer to dry out there.

[dewaltdisney]

The other thing I thought was that the compression of the tyres probably draws damp to that spot also. It does the same on my drive depending on the season and how wet it has been.

DWD