I think the aggregate might be the key. I've seen asphalt get so soft you could kick dents in it with the heel of your shoe on a very hot day.

Your best bet might be to go with concrete instead of asphalt, unless you can have it specially formulated to withstand the temps and load - or put down the plywood every time you want to use it. If it's a one-shot deal to get the equipment set the plywood might be all right. If it's to be run on very often then the plywood would be a bit too much work on a regular basis.

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Backlash wrote:
I think the type of asphalt, along with it's base material used, has a lot
to do with it's ability to support a forklift. The parking lot at work seems
to have some small aggregate mixed into it, and a forklift weighing 5,500
lbs, with pneumatic tires, often with a 2,000 lb load, has been operated on
it many times daily in all kinds of weather, with absolutely no issues,
since 1967. It hits 100 degrees here in summer, and maybe as low as 18 in
winter.

RJ