After debuting
its multi-zone tire -- combining two distinct rubber compounds on the same tire
-- at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway last year, Goodyear adds Texas
Motor Speedway to its roster of multi-zone tracks this weekend
The unique multi-zone tread tire combines a compound designed for traction on the outside 10 inches of the tread with another compound designed for durability on the inside two inches; where the tire produces the most heat and takes the most abuse.
Like Atlanta, Texas Motor Speedway has proven to be one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. It is abrasive and wears tires quickly, while also producing high speeds and increased loads. That combination makes Texas the ideal track for the multi-zone tread technology.
“With this 2014 rules package, we expect speeds and loads to be up at Texas,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “Like at Atlanta last year, we didn’t want to sacrifice grip on a worn
racing surface. We decided to bring our multi-zone tread to enhance the durability on the right-side, and we are coming back with the Texas left-side we’ve run there in the past to maintain grip.
“This season, we’ve already broken track records on the two intermediate tracks we’ve raced so far – Las Vegas and California. There’s no reason to think Texas won’t be more of the same.”
Goodyearworked throughout the off-season, testing and confirming its tire recommendations with the new rules package. Due to the scheduling demands of producing 150,000 NASCAR tires each season, at-track testing is not always an option, making lab testing – which replicates actual race conditions -- critical.
“We conducted lab durability testing with this package to verify the performance of this tire set-up, including the validation of our air pressure recommendations,” said Stucker. “Our test process enables us
to utilize track and car data to simulate actual race conditions. When time does not allow for a track test, this modeling, in essence, allows us to do the same thing.
“Once we generate this data, confirming our recommendation and at which air pressures the tires need to be run, we share that information with the teams. The teams have the ability to use this inflation data,
along with the tire characterization data we supply each week, to make choices to optimize endurance and performance. Teams have asked for some flexibility with how they set up their cars. This information is just another tool in their toolbox.”
Goodyear will recommend minimum inflation pressures of 23 psi (front) and 21 psi (rear) on the left-side and 51 psi (front) and 47 psi (rear) on the right-side at Texas.
The unique multi-zone tread tire combines a compound designed for traction on the outside 10 inches of the tread with another compound designed for durability on the inside two inches; where the tire produces the most heat and takes the most abuse.
Like Atlanta, Texas Motor Speedway has proven to be one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. It is abrasive and wears tires quickly, while also producing high speeds and increased loads. That combination makes Texas the ideal track for the multi-zone tread technology.
“With this 2014 rules package, we expect speeds and loads to be up at Texas,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “Like at Atlanta last year, we didn’t want to sacrifice grip on a worn
racing surface. We decided to bring our multi-zone tread to enhance the durability on the right-side, and we are coming back with the Texas left-side we’ve run there in the past to maintain grip.
“This season, we’ve already broken track records on the two intermediate tracks we’ve raced so far – Las Vegas and California. There’s no reason to think Texas won’t be more of the same.”
Goodyearworked throughout the off-season, testing and confirming its tire recommendations with the new rules package. Due to the scheduling demands of producing 150,000 NASCAR tires each season, at-track testing is not always an option, making lab testing – which replicates actual race conditions -- critical.
“We conducted lab durability testing with this package to verify the performance of this tire set-up, including the validation of our air pressure recommendations,” said Stucker. “Our test process enables us
to utilize track and car data to simulate actual race conditions. When time does not allow for a track test, this modeling, in essence, allows us to do the same thing.
“Once we generate this data, confirming our recommendation and at which air pressures the tires need to be run, we share that information with the teams. The teams have the ability to use this inflation data,
along with the tire characterization data we supply each week, to make choices to optimize endurance and performance. Teams have asked for some flexibility with how they set up their cars. This information is just another tool in their toolbox.”
Goodyear will recommend minimum inflation pressures of 23 psi (front) and 21 psi (rear) on the left-side and 51 psi (front) and 47 psi (rear) on the right-side at Texas.
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