Asphalt　concrete　(AC)　exhibits　significant　tension–compression　(TC)　asymmetry　and　aggregate　contacts　can　be　one　of　the　critical　contributors　to　this　behavior.　Nevertheless,　the　underlying　mechanisms　are　still　unclear,　and　there　has　been　no　study　to　quantify　this　behavior.　To　fill　the　research　gap,　multiscale　characterization　and　modeling　on　AC　were　performed　in　this　study.　At　the　microscale　level,　nanoindentation　tests　were　conducted　to　characterize　the　aggregate　contact　characteristics　in　the　contact　region　(CR).　The　CR　was　found　to　have　a　sandwich-like　structure　consisting　of　two　interfacial　layers,　large　filler　particles,　and　asphalt　mastic.　Accordingly,　micromechanical　models　of　CR　were　developed　to　predict　its　mechanical　behavior　in　tension　and　compresison　(T&C).　The　modeling　results　showed　that　aggregate　contacts　significantly　increase　the　compressive　modulus,　leading　to　the　substantial　TC　asymmetry　of　CR.　The　predicted　viscoelastic　properties　of　CR　were　further　applied　to　the　developed　mesostructural　model　of　AC.　The　predicted　master　curves　in　T&C　showed　significant　asymmetry　and　quantitatively　agreed　with　the　experimental　ones,　demonstrating　the　effectiveness　of　the　adopted　modeling　approaches.　This　study　is　the　first　study　to　quantify　the　asymmetric　performance　of　AC.　The　outcomes　can　be　applied　to　evaluate　AC＇s　TC　asymmetry　effects　on　pavement　performance.　©　2023　The　Author(s)