NASCAR teams are the epitome of ingenuity when it comes to stock car racing. They use top of the line technology and make best use of the available means. NASCAR teams know the value of every component of their car and they carefully analyse every piece even when the cars are destroyed.
The most elite racing in stock car racing, NASCAR Cup Series, is the prime example of how NASCAR uses various methods to prove themselves than other racing series and to cater to the general audience. The cars used in are customised for racing but they are not entirely different from their production counterparts.
Similar to NASCAR teams, there is Goodyear, the official tire supplier of NASCAR. It is the sole supplier of race tires to every team in NASCAR. The tires are the most valuable component in NASCAR racing. The performance of a car solely depends on the performance of the tire. There is a reason why strategy is the key to winning races in NASCAR and most other forms of racing. NASCAR uses slicks, which are extremely soft tires without treads that provide better traction than normal tires.
NASCAR old tires
NASCAR tires aren’t exactly purchased by teams. The official tire supplier Goodyear provides the correct tire for the specific tack to the teams on lease. This means that teams return their used tires back to Goodyear. The tire technology Goodyear uses in NASCAR is relevant to its real life products. Goodyear uses these used tires to make better products for both their consumers and for NASCAR teams. Tires are made of different compounds, the softest compounds usually provide the best traction and speeds whereas, the harder compounds are built to last long duration albeit at the cost of speed.
NASCAR tires run very hot, reaching a maximum temperature of more than 100 degree Celsius during a race. These high temperatures cause debris to stick to tires and cause various deformations in tires. After the race is completed, the used set of tires is reheated and the debris is scraped off to analyse the tire wear.
Tire wear is an important factor that decides results in the races. The better a team can manage its tire wear, the more chances are that during the race it will take a better lead compared to other teams and won’t need to pit soon. These tires are then returned back to Goodyear for recycling and retreading.
FAQ's On NASCAR teams
A. Goodyear is the official tire supplier of NASCAR.
A. NASCAR cars do not use rain tires on ovals due to the lack of traction.
A. NASCAR recycles the old tires after analysing it for tire wear and other necessary factors.
A. NASCAR teams lease tires from Goodyear, they do not buy them.
A. NASCAR uses Goodyear Wet Weather tires in the rain on short tracks and road courses.
