What’s Happening?

Between the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing, the Charter Agreement, and driver penalties, tire compounds found their way into the early 2024 NASCAR debate hall. But why have talks about tires popped back up?

• Tires can make or break a driver’s day. Some tires you can run most of the race on, while other tires fall apart quickly, like those we saw at Bristol. No matter what, teams and drivers have to account for tires in their race weekend strategies.
• An option tire, at least in NASCAR, is a tire that drives and wears differently than the typical tire brought by Goodyear. Other racing series, most notably Formula One, use different tires during races, allowing for differing strategies.
• Tires became a hot-button NASCAR issue after the poor shows put on by the Next Gen car at short tracks. However, Bristol felt like a breakthrough with a tire that fell apart at a rate so fast that they could hardly keep the track clean.

Bristol Sets the Stage

In 2024, NASCAR’s short track and road course racing is a shadow of what it once was. On those tracks, the NASCAR Next-Gen car has had a less-than-stellar record, with a major issue being drivers struggling to pass each other.

Many fans were worried about Bristol returning to concrete after three years on dirt. The track is one of many that has seen the effects of Next Gen short track racing. However, this year’s spring Bristol race saw a dramatic story told flag to flag with tires shredding around the track.

The tires falling apart quickly is a positive for the racing product, as it forces the teams to plan for and deal with the tires as part of their strategy. Many of the complaints about the short tracks previously centered around the lack of tire wear, which removed an element of competition (and entertainment) for fans.

The need for strategy throughout the race, both on the pit box and behind the wheel, made great racing. However, this was not planned, as the Tennessee weather affected tire wear. After the spring Richmond race and another failed short-track package, fans, NASCAR, and Goodyear knew something had to change.

The Year of The Tire?

NASCAR and Goodyear announced that the All-Star Race would serve as a proving ground for a new “option tire.” The option tire has a much softer compound, similar to a wet weather tire with no tread, compared to the primary tire and its harder compound.

Teams qualified on the primary tire and started the race on an option tire. Unfortunately, the performance at Wilkesboro was not what most hoped it would be. Due to the new tire not falling off at the rate NASCAR expected it would on North Wilkesboro’s new surface.

NASCAR and Goodyear doubled down a few weeks ago at Richmond, with teams using the primary tire for qualifying and then having two sets of option tires to use whenever teams liked. The older surface at Richmond and longer racing helped with the tire’s performance, with most marking it as a success.

So, if this option tire is the future of NASAR, what does it bring to the table?

To Pit or Not to Pit?

Tire wear and fall-off are the keys to the option tire. A softer compound, like the option tire, falls off faster while having more grip and quicker lap times on the track.

Tire fall-off is how lap times decrease as a tire is used. After a certain number of laps, the softer tire begins to wear down, the car’s speed slows, and your lap times get slower.

Tire wear is the most important aspect of the option tire. A driver using the option tire can choose to go all out and get to the front of the pack. But, in doing so, they risk using up their fresh set of tires quicker than some using the slower and harder primary tire.

Crews have to manage the now multiple options for tires by strategizing around fall-off rather than fuel strategy alone. Teams must also account for what tire their opponents are racing and when they use their differing tires.

So, why are tires back on top of the NASCAR conversation pile?

The Glen, The Tire, and The Championship

Road courses, like short tracks, have seen the negative effects of the Next Gen cars’ passing problems. Goodyear and NASCAR are addressing this before this weekend at Watkins Glen. However, we may not have seen the last of option tires this season.

NASCAR and Goodyear held a tire test in late June at Watkins Glen International. This test allowed the two parties to find a new road course tire with more fall-off. The reported results shocked fans and drivers.

The estimated four seconds of fall-off is a lot. However, that number is more likely three seconds of fall-off, which is still extremely significant.

This compound means aggressive Road Course racers like Tyler Reddick and Shane Van Gisbergen may have to play it semi-safe this weekend. Regardless, while this new tire is not the option tire, the option tire has multiple opportunities to return this late this year.

Bristol is unlikely to have the tire, as it is next week. But, the Round of Eight cutoff race at Martinsville and the Championship race at Phoenix may usher in a return.

Some drivers, like Christopher Bell, think that the tire at Phoenix may be a bad call for the championship race, as the option tire could have a major influence on who wins the race and championship.

While NASCAR is no stranger to dramatization, this would be a dramatic shift in some teams’ playoff plans. For now, it looks like NASCAR will not throw an option tire into the playoff mix—that is, of course, for now.

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