MAVIS' GUIDE TO NASCAR TIRES

200 miles per hour. 750+ horsepower. 150 heartbeats per minute. One trophy at the end of it all. 

Winning NASCAR races is all about precision, speed, and strategy. Not only must iconic drivers like Denny Hamlin be on their game from the minute the green flag drops, but their vehicles and, most importantly, their Goodyear racing tires must be ready to take on the extreme conditions of a NASCAR cup race. 

Even when drivers like Denny perform at their peak, without a grippy, durable set of 18-inch racing tires from Goodyear, the No.11 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry XSE will never see the checkered flag. 

For 2024, the tire experts at Mavis Discount Tire are proud to sponsor the No.11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE as Denny Hamlin continues his epic quest to add to his 53 victories (and counting) and take home the elusive Bill France Cup. 

Now, let’s get into what makes NASCAR tires such an incredible example of engineering and how some of this technology translates to what’s in your driveway.  

Understanding NASCAR Tires

How do you put the power from a 750+ horsepower, all-American V8 to the ground? 

Let’s start with some basics. 

Currently, three manufacturers (Toyota, Ford, and General Motors) are competing in NASCAR Cup Series races, the top series in the sport. 17 full-time teams, all representing a specific manufacturer, compete in a demanding 36-race calendar at a combination of oval speedways, street courses, and road courses nationwide. At the end of the season, the Bill France Cup is the ultimate reward. 

Teams have a choice of two types of tires, depending on the weather conditions: NASCAR: Goodyear Radials or Goodyear Wet Weather tires. During the course of a race, teams will use anywhere from nine to fourteen sets of tires to provide maximum grip at staggering speeds. Once tires wear out, they are changed during pit stops, which are an amazing spectacle in their own right. 

Each tire is 18 inches in diameter, which was changed in 2022 from the previous 15-inch design used since 1997. Goodyear’s 18-inch tires were designed alongside the NASCAR Next Gen car and provide superior grip compared to older designs. Unlike street tires, Goodyear Radials are slick racing tires with no tread that are designed to provide maximum traction at well over 200 miles per hour. Although the exact details of the design are hushed, Goodyear provides four types of slick, radial tire compounds to teams like Joe Gibbs Racing: speedway, intermediate, road course, and short track. 

Everything from maximum lateral load and temperature dispersion to the durability of the compound on specific track surfaces plays an important role in how Goodyear engineers these specific tire compounds. Remember, these vehicles are rear-wheel drive and put down anywhere from 750 to 800 horsepower, so maximum traction is vital to race success. 

Until 2023, Goodyear Wet Weather tires were only used on road courses, but a rule change in 2023 brought the wet tire to oval tracks. 

Much of the NASCAR Goodyear Wet Weather tire technology is shared with the Eagle® F1 SuperCar® 3 street tire that Mavis Discount Tire sells to enthusiasts who push their cars to the limit. While the overall grip of a NASCAR Goodyear Wet Weather tire is lower than the slick variant, they provide enough traction for teams to keep racing and avoid major weather delays prevalent throughout the NASCAR season. 

NASCAR Tire Specifications and Rules

NASCAR runs three series: the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with the NASCAR Cup Series being the pinnacle of the sport. 

When it comes to variations in vehicles and equipment, there are innumerable rules and technical approaches in the world of NASCAR, but one thing is consistent: the tires. Every team has access to the same tires, which are all provided by Goodyear. In fact, Goodyear has been supplying tires to NASCAR since 1954, and in the last 25 years, the only tires on the track have been from Goodyear. All three NASCAR racing series use this iconic brand. 

Goodyear hand builds every NASCAR tire right here in America at their Akron, Ohio, plant. The best and brightest builders meticulously construct and inspect every tire that rolls out of the plant. In a typical race, Goodyear will send 4,000 tires, which can add up to over 100,000 tires per year. 

Each tire arrives with a label that shows crucial information about the tire and allows officials to narrow down specific, systemic tire issues, should they arise. 

Mavis, NASCAR, and Consumer Tire Options

We know that motorsports enthusiasts would love to put Cup Series tires on their personal vehicles, but unfortunately, enthusiasts can not buy the exact tires NASCAR uses for their cars. However, if you love NASCAR, you can purchase Goodyear tires inspired by NASCAR technology from your local Mavis Discount Tire. 

While a Goodyear NASCAR tire is designed only to provide maximum grip for a small portion of a race, Goodyear street tires are designed to confidently provide tens of thousands of miles of durability, performance, and confidence. Plus, a slick tire on the street may sound fun, but even a small puddle of water or debris can cause loss of control. 

For those who love to drive, Mavis Discount Tire offers the iconic Eagle® F1 SuperCar® 3 for high-performance vehicles ranging from track-ready Ford Mustangs to the iconic Toyota Supra. This incredible piece of engineering blends the best of Goodyear’s track technology with the convenience of a street-ready tire that can handle everything from the daily commute to a time trial at your local track. 

NASCAR Tire FAQs

What Happens to Used NASCAR Tires?

After a NASCAR race, used tires undergo a unique lifecycle. Typically, they are collected by Goodyear, the official NASCAR tire supplier, for analysis and recycling. Goodyear examines some of the tires to assess performance wear patterns and gather data for future improvements. Tires not selected for analysis are recycled and can be repurposed into various products, including asphalt for new racing surfaces or other rubber-based products. 

How Often Do NASCAR Teams Change Their Tires During a Race?

The frequency of tire changes in NASCAR races is heavily influenced by strategy, the track's surface, race conditions, and tire performance. Depending on these factors, teams typically change tires during scheduled pit stops, which can occur every 30-50 laps. However, unscheduled pit stops may happen due to tire wear or damage. Tire management is a crucial aspect of race strategy, as fresh tires can significantly improve a car's speed and handling, affecting the race's outcome.

How Many Sets of Tires Are Allowed in a NASCAR Race?

NASCAR imposes specific regulations on tire usage to ensure fairness and add strategic complexity to races. The number of tire sets allowed varies depending on the track and the race's length. For instance, teams might be limited to fewer sets at shorter tracks compared to longer endurance races where more sets are permitted. These rules are part of NASCAR's effort to balance competition and strategy, with teams often making critical decisions on when to use their allocated tire sets for optimal performance.

How Do NASCAR Pit Crews Change Tires So Fast?

NASCAR pit crews do rapid tire changes through a combination of highly skilled personnel, specialized tools, and practiced techniques. Each crew member has a specific role, from removing the lug nuts with a pneumatic impact wrench to jacking the car up and replacing the tires. These tasks are performed with precision and coordination, honed through extensive practice. Using high-speed, high-torque air guns for lug nuts and lightweight, high-performance jacks helps minimize the time a car spends in the pit, often enabling tire changes in just a few seconds.

How Much Does a NASCAR Tire Weigh?

A NASCAR tire typically weighs about 24 to 28 pounds (approximately 11 to 13 kilograms). This weight includes the tire and inner liner, a safety feature unique to NASCAR that provides added protection against blowouts. 

Tires and Service That Go The Extra Mile 

Ask any race engineer and they’ll tell you straight up: there is nothing more important in a race than tire performance. 

Tires play an indispensable role in the safety and performance of NASCAR vehicles, serving as the sole point of contact between the car and the track. Translating the lessons learned from the demanding environment of motorsports to everyday vehicle tires is a testament to the excellence of Goodyear. This involves leveraging technologies and innovations developed for the race track to enhance the safety, durability, and performance of tires available to the general public. 

Mavis is thrilled to sponsor Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE as Joe Gibbs Racing shoots for their sixth Cup Series championship. Our commitment to sponsoring the best race cars is backed up by our pledge to serve race fans who demand the best. Thanks to a wide selection of Goodyear tires, including racing-inspired tires like the awesome Eagle® F1 SuperCar® 3, Mavis is the place for all your performance tire needs. 

From oil changes to brakes, tires, and alignment, Mavis is your first and only stop for all of your vehicle care needs. 

See you at the track!