HOW TO WORK RACE TIRES On NASCAR Ovals 2000-01-3571

Working NASCAR tires correctly will help a team qualify well and have a chance to win on Sunday. Aerodynamics, engines, and shocks are not the only things. Tire usage dictates suspension geometry, springs, weight jacking, and shock choices. Tire slip losses in corners are huge, over 100 HP in qualifying trim and over 150 HP in race trim. Proper tire usage reduces drag HP for qualifying and controls right side tire heating in race trim. Tire slip loss heats the tread rubber and is the primary factor limiting car performance on short tracks. Evaluation of several adjustments on tire and car cornering performance is determined using the Hallum Contact Patch Model presented in SAE 983028 Understanding Race Tires. One psi of tire pressure is significant to car performance. Tire and car performance changes with toe, Ackerman, camber, aerodynamic force, load jacking, and weight, are compared to the performance change with tire pressure. The Hallum Model considers heating so dynamic tire performance phenomena can be evaluated.