The fast-paced, high-thrill nature of every NASCAR race makes most of its viewers seriously curious about the cars, their components and how they work. One of the most noticeable features of the cars is the extraordinary racing tires from Goodyear.
NASCAR tires are bald to maximize surface contact with the track, enhancing grip and control during high-speed racing. These slicks work best in dry conditions, providing superior performance and safety on the oval circuit.
A typical set of street tires might last anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 miles depending on how you drive, maybe even more. NASCAR tires, on the other hand, don’t even make it through a single race thanks to how much they’re put through every time.
If you look at NASCAR tires up close, perhaps the first thing you’ll notice about them is that they have no treads on them. They’re “bald” in that sense, and are often referred to as “slickers” or just “slicks” depending on where you are.
These are not street-legal tires, but they make a huge difference on the race track. In today’s article we’ll be exploring reasons why NASCAR tires are bald.
Why Are NASCAR Tires Bald?
The main reason NASCAR tires are bald — they have no tread — is for safety. This might sound counterintuitive to those who are constantly told the benefits of thickly treaded tires on winter roads, for example, but it’s true on the race track, especially under regular, dry conditions.
The benefit of slickers is that their smooth surface maximizes contact with the smooth surface of the racetrack, which is exactly what one needs when trying to push a car at 200-mph around an oval track while competing against 39 other drivers.
When conditions are wet or otherwise less than ideal, then teams may switch to intermediate or other tires. While these don’t perform as well on a racetrack as slickers do, they are safer in those conditions.
The main limitation of proper racing tires like those in NASCAR is that they only really work their best when conditions are ideal.
We have an article on why NASCAR gets through so many tires
in a race here.
What Types of Tires are Used in NASCAR Races?
There are three main types of tire that are used by NASCAR teams depending on the conditions. They are:
- Slickers
- Grooved
- Treaded
Each has its advantages and disadvantages on the track depending on the conditions. We’ll introduce each type in a little more detail below:
Slickers
On a traditional and more typical oval track, and in dry conditions, these are the go-to tires for NASCAR. These “bald” tires are an ideal choice because of the way they hug the road so tightly, with every part of the tire making contact with the track. It’s this feature that allows drivers to rocket around turns at speeds of up to 200-mph, and what helps them stay relatively secure as they fight to keep the car on the ideal path around the oval.
As we have mentioned previously, however, the tires only really do their job when they are in good dry conditions. The track becoming slickened by water, or the track being more complex like a road course, all mean that a different kind of tire is required.
Grooved
These are a kind of intermediate tire that are useful when moisture or rain have made road conditions slick. Even in heavy fog, the track can become slicker than it should be when using bald tires. Therefore, grooved tires might be introduced to the race if conditions become damp and the track slick.
This might be from the start of the race, or it might be part way through the race that the switch is made. Pit crews will follow the conditions closely and make a decision.
Treaded
As the name suggests, these are tires that are closer to regular street tires, but are only generally used when the condition of the track is very bad.
This includes races or events where the track is anything but a smooth concrete build. Any kind of rougher track needs treaded tires for added traction.
What’s Special About NASCAR Tires?
Lifespan
Compared to regular street tires, perhaps the most noticeable difference when it comes to NASCAR tires is their significantly shorter lifespan. They have a short but very intense life of about 60 to 60 laps, or 60 to 80 miles give or take. They are 24-lbs in weight and just 11.5 inches wide, and they leave their rubber entrails all over the track as they are pushed to the extreme speed and heat of a typical NASCAR race.
Speed of Changing
If you’ve seen any motorsports where tires are changed, including Formula 1, NASCAR and more, the speed of the tire change is among the most impressive elements on show. During a NASCAR pit stop, it only takes the best teams about 12-14 seconds to change all four tires, as well as using their specialist equipment to rapidly refuel the car with enough juice to make it through the rest of the stage.
It’s an incredible sight, especially when you consider how much practice, training and skill it takes to become so proficient under pressure.
Nitrogen Inside
One more key feature of NASCAR tires is that they aren’t filled with regular air like street tires. They use pure nitrogen instead, which has less moisture in it than regular compressed air does.
This is important when the tire heats up because in a regular tire with air, extra heat causes the moisture within it to vaporize and expand, which in turn increases the overall tire pressure.
Changes in tire pressure will create noticeable effects on how the car handles, and drivers in a NASCAR race can’t afford this.
Nitrogen removes this problem, helping to keep the tires at a more steady pressure, which itself helps keep the car more stable at high speeds on the track.
The Evolution of NASCAR Tires
The development of NASCAR tires has been an ongoing process since the inception of the sport. Early NASCAR tires resembled standard road tires, with tread patterns and similar compositions.
As racing technology evolved, the need for specialized tires became evident, leading to the creation of slicks for optimal dry-weather performance. Throughout the years, technological advancements have led to more durable compounds, different sidewall constructions for better handling, and the use of inner liners for added safety.
Changes in NASCAR regulations have also influenced tire evolution. For instance, a 2005 rule change limited teams to specific sets of tires for a race, putting a premium on tire management and strategy.
Today, NASCAR tires are high-performance components integral to the racing spectacle, reflecting years of innovation and refinement.
The Physics Behind NASCAR Tires
The science of NASCAR tires involves some complex physics. When a race car rounds a corner at high speed, centrifugal force tries to push the car outward. The grip between the tire and track surface counteracts this force, allowing the car to maintain its racing line.
This grip, or friction, is maximized in slick tires due to the large contact area. Heat also plays a crucial role. As a tire rolls, it flexes and generates heat. Up to a certain point, this heat makes the tire stickier and improves grip. However, excessive heat can degrade the tire and lessen its performance.
NASCAR teams closely monitor tire temperatures to maintain an optimal balance between grip and longevity.
Tire Management in NASCAR Races
In NASCAR, tire management is a critical strategic element. Teams must determine when to change tires based on factors like tire wear, track conditions, and fuel strategy. Fresh tires provide more grip but wear out quickly.
Older tires lose grip but can be advantageous when fewer pit stops are desired. Changing all four tires provides the most grip but takes the longest time, while a two-tire change is quicker but unbalances the car.
Therefore, crew chiefs must decide between speed and balance based on the situation. There’s a limit to the number of tire sets available for each race, so decisions about when to use a fresh set are key to a successful strategy.
Impact of Tires on Race Outcomes
Tire choice and management can dramatically affect a NASCAR race’s outcome. For instance, choosing to stay out on old tires while others pit for new ones can lead to short-term gains in track position but might result in being overtaken later as tire performance drops off.
Conversely, pitting for fresh tires at the right time can provide a significant speed advantage. Tire failures can also dramatically influence a race.
A blown tire can cause a driver to lose control, resulting in an accident or a long pit stop, effectively ending any chance of a good finish. Some races have been won or lost on the back of tire-related decisions and incidents.
Conclusion
NASCAR tires, with their bald, tread-less appearance, are an example of the meticulous engineering and strategic planning involved in the sport. Their evolution mirrors the technological advancements in racing, their design obeys complex physics, and their management during races often determines victory or defeat.
Understanding the intricacies of these racing slicks provides a fascinating lens into the behind-the-scenes complexities of NASCAR racing. They may appear bald, but these tires carry a wealth of science, history, strategy, and stories in every high-speed lap.
