Has NASCAR or IRL ever tested a rain tire?

Question

I've been trying to get into oval track racing but I get frustrated when there's rain. I have grown up watching road racing so I'm used to seeing cars switch over to a rain tires if they encounter rain.

I understand that there is much more risk involved when racing in the wet and the driver's need to be more cautious and drive slower too. Do you ever think they're will be a time when oval track racers can race in the wet?

My intention is not to start a heated argument between road racing and oval racing. I'm looking for some answers from seasoned oval racing fans to help me understand better.

Answer 1

Rain tyres in oval is dangerous... Nascar and IRL are too fast for racing in the rain...

Answer 2

no you cant race flat out around an oval in the rain,

a car set up for an oval is already on the edge of traction

also on road racing cars break for the turns, the speed drops and so does the rooster tail, it just wouldn't be feasible for 20 cars doing 200 plus around an oval with zero visibility

Answer 3

They have rain tires for the road courses. The constant left turning of ovals means the tread will wear off in no time rendering the idea useless.

Answer 4

Rain tires, by design, are a softer compound of rubber than racing slicks.  Because of this softer compound, on banked ovals, the tires (even in a downpour) would begin breaking down after 2-3 laps.  Banked ovals are built strictly for cars to get downforce by centrifugal force, meaning the extra pressure exerted on the tires will cause them to break down quicker.

Unfortunately, if you want to run rain tires on an oval, the oval must have 0* of banking throughout the course.  But then, you're really running a rather boring street/road course.  I know of no 0* banked asphalt ovals.  An intriguing question, to say the least, but unfortunately, I believe the tire companies, and the sheer physics of banked oval racing, have trumped victorious.

Answer 5

On a road course speeds are usually much lower than on an oval track and most of the time there's room to slide off the track, drive back on and keep going (unless it's a street course). On an oval track if you slide far enough, you knock down the wall. No racing series races in the rain on ovals, and it's doubtful anyone will ever try it.

Answer 6

The tire loads are too high for a rain tire to run on a oval.

NASCAR and I assume the IRL have rain tires for road courses.