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What tires NASCAR use?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 11, 2026

Since 1954, Goodyear has been the official tire supplier of NASCAR. The tire company has supplied tires for all three national series since the 1997 season. Each tire is handmade and rigorously inspected in Akron, Ohio, before leaving for the track each race weekend.

What brand of wheels does NASCAR use?

At right is the Aero 59 NASCAR-approved steel racing wheel used by many of the teams. The wheel size is 15 x 9-1/2″ and it weighs 27 lbs. The tire (without inner liner) weights 24 lbs.

Does NASCAR only use Goodyear tires?

Many blamed the competing tire manufacturers and their rush to attract teams to their stable, and NASCAR returned exclusively to Goodyear in 1995, a deal that's gone uncontested since.

Do all Nascars use the same tires?

Each team is allowed the same number of tires

Depending on the race, NASCAR then sets a cap on how many additional sets of tires teams can have for each event.

What size tires do they run in NASCAR?

NASCAR runs a very plain, “old school” steel wheel. They do this for strength, not aesthetics. They are usually from AERO or Bassett Racing, and measure 15 inches diameter, and 9.5 or 10 inches wide. While anyone can buy these wheels and fit them to a road car, the wheels are not DOT approved.

34 related questions found

How much do Goodyear NASCAR tires cost?

A set of racing tires sits behind Mike Skinner's car in the garage area of Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C. The tires for NASCAR cars cost $350 to $450 each. Interestingly, racing teams don't buy their tires. They lease them from Goodyear (the official tire supplier of NASCAR) on race day.

Are NASCAR tires steel belted?

Belt Package - Steel braided belts are placed between the tread and piles to give the tire its flat footprint. Inner Liner - An inner tire that provides support in the event of a puncture or failure to the outer main tire.

Where do used NASCAR tires go?

Once the tires come off the car, they are loaded onto a trailer at the racetrack and shipped to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina. After they are inspected, they are then shipped to the Liberty Tire Recycling Center just down the road.

How much do NASCAR tires cost?

NASCAR Tires Cost ($20,000): Tires are the most costly part in NASCAR racing, mostly teams don't buy the tires they get them on lease from (Goodyear) who are official supplier of tires in NASCAR. A source revealed that each tire cost maximum $350 – $500 which means teams invest $20,000 for each race.

Why are NASCAR tires so thick?

racing tires tend to be soft because that generates more friction. Unfortunately soft materials have weak shear strenth, so a large area is needed to support large tangential forces. (In effect, the amount of force that friction can exert is limited by the shear strength of the materials.)

Why do NASCAR tires wear out so fast?

Because of the high banking on several of the tracks, stock cars and trucks in NASCAR's three series can reach speeds approaching and in some cases, above 200 mph (321.9 km/h). Centrifugal force allows the cars to reach the high speeds, but as you can imagine, the tires wear out very quickly.

How heavy is a NASCAR tire?

NASCAR tires each weigh 24 lbs by themselves and 27 lbs with their inner liners. They may be lighter than they appear, but don't let that fool you into thinking that they're cheap—these 11.5 inch wide tires cost an average of $500 each! During a race, each team is allotted five sets of tires per race.

Where does Goodyear make NASCAR tires?

Producing racing tires by hand out of its high-tech Akron, Ohio, manufacturing plant, Goodyear makes every racing tire produced for Nascar's top three series as well as the NHRA/Top Fuel league. The company churns out more than 100,000 tires each year for Nascar.

How many horsepower is a NASCAR?

At the backbone 1.5- to 2.0-mile tri-oval tracks of NASCAR, the engines produce over 850 hp running 9,200-9,400 rpm for 500 miles, 600 mi for the Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte race.

Who makes NASCAR Next Gen wheels?

In all, Goodyear has spent more than two years testing and developing the tire change to accompany the Next Gen car's racing debut. “The move to Next Gen is certainly the most significant change to the Cup Series vehicle in decades,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of racing.

How do NASCAR lug nuts not cross?

Many NASCAR mechanics use what's called an impact wrench or "thunder gun" to quickly and effectively screw on nuts and bolts to the wheel.

How much is a gallon of NASCAR fuel?

Be glad you're not filling up for the Daytona 500. The gas Nascar drivers will put into their tanks on Sunday costs $7.80 a gallon. With tax, it's $8.26—roughly twice what Americans now are paying at the pump. Of course, it's not ordinary gas.

Who is the richest NASCAR driver?

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. earns the ranking of the wealthiest NASCAR driver, with an estimated net worth of $300 million.

How much does a Nascar engine cost?

On average, a typical NASCAR engine costs around $100,000. However, during some racing events, teams use more than one engine. For example, a car competing in the Daytona 500 may use up to three engines throughout the event.

Are NASCAR tires recycled?

NASCAR has the largest recycling program in sports, including a comprehensive effort that accounts for approximately 120,000 Goodyear tires recycled across NASCAR's top three national series each year.

Why are Indy car tires bald?

Race cars use tires without tread because smooth tires provide better traction in dry conditions. If the ground is wet, however, drivers will suddenly find themselves needing the grooved tread that siphons water away from the tires.

Why are NASCAR tires slick?

Slick tyres are tyres with minimal tread. Their surface is smooth, without grooves, so they have high levels of grip and more direct rubber contact with the ground. This generates more power, which helps cars accelerate to crazy speeds in elite sport. While this is exactly why slicks might appeal to everyday drivers…

How hot does a NASCAR tire get?

Answer provided by. NASCAR events put tires to the test—but you shouldn't do the same. Since you asked, though, tires get 50 degrees hotter than the temperature outside when you're driving. For example, if the temperature is 70 degrees outside, your tires will run about 120 degrees.

How much do NASCAR drivers make per race?

Despite all the challenges an individual must face in order to become a NASCAR driver, the job pays well because of which, many take on this difficult task. Meanwhile, every race has a purse split through which the winner, on average, takes home $47,500 a race while the loser makes close to $8,500.