Since all the tire problems at Indy should NASCAR consider other tire companies?

Question

Back in the late 80's and early 90's we had Hoosier and Goodyear. Should we see the return of Hoosier or the intro of BF GOODRICH?

Or should we be happy with Goodyear?

Answer 1

goodyear has an exclusive contract with nascar through at least 2012 (see article below). they drop the ball here and there, but they are under a lot of "pressure" so to speak, with the new car being run on new tracks. this time, they just missed badly, and they are primarily to blame. but some of that blame lies with nascar and with the crew chiefs who were given a list of places to test to choose from and they didn't pick indy this year.

so no, goodyear has a lot invested so far and they accumulated huge amounts of data with the new car at all the tracks this year and last. bringing anyone else in is just asking to go through even more "growing pains" as they come "up to speed."

Answer 2

NASCAR should introduce Michelin tires, Teresa and DeLana should stop shaving their pits, and Brian France and Todd Helton should grow pencil-thin mustaches and wear berets! That would be, how you say, fantastique! Oui! Oui!

No, seriously, the answer isn't so cut-and-dry.  NASCAR and Goodyear are under contract for 2-3 more years, at least.  However, we shouldn't be happy with Goodyear.  Both NASCAR and Goodyear failed at the Brickyard debacle.  All was handled well, but the whole fiasco could have been avoided with more testing by NASCAR and Goodyear both.  

Should NASCAR bring in another tire company to compete with Goodyear?  Ask most of the drivers from the 80's and early 90's and they'll answer with a resounding NO.  When Goodyear and Hoosier were competing in cup, they would compete to bring not a safer tire, but a faster tire.  Safety was completely neglected, and cars were flying all over the place.  You think Indy was bad... wait until you see a superspeedway race on supersoft tires.  It won't be pretty.

If, once Goodyear's contract is up, another tire company can prove that they can put as much or more R&D as Goodyear does into the tire, all at a similar or better cost, then yes, NASCAR should switch companies.  But think about this:  Goodyear is an American company.  Michelin is French, as you might have noticed, and Bridgestone/Firestone is Japanese.  If NASCAR were to switch to one of these companies, the backlash from NASCAR fans may be even higher than the attacks thrown at the introduction of Toyota.  So, France, Pemberton, and company have to ask themselves, "Is it worth the cost?"

Answer 3

yes they should, you would think a tire company who supplies nascar a major sporting event would make something that works.  that is like a football falling apart in the 3rd quarter. to think that a good year blimp is made out of that same rubber is a scary thought.

Answer 4

Sewart certainly thinks so and now that he's an owner look for him to really push for the good old tire wars days with Firestone.

Answer 5

Yes goodyear dropped the ball.They can't figure out the COT so bring in some new minds. I say give HOOSIER a try

Answer 6

"NO" We done been through a tire war before we don't need another. Hay the people at Goodyear are only human! I'm not going to count them out over 1 mess up.

Answer 7

Mark Martin said today's tires are not like the older tires. He said they aren't "sticky or gooey" enough and they don't lay down rubber well enough on the tracks. He said that the tires they have now lays down a fine powder. Mark has been into racing a while and he should know. So if Goodyear has a problem with "sticky and gooey" tires then yes bring in someone who can make a tire.

Answer 8

YES..THE G0ODYEAR TiRES ARE GARBAGEEEEEEE !

Answer 9

Simply put, no.  Goodyear had 1 limited test session back in April on the diamond cut track with the new COT car.  It is called trial and error.  Goodyear didn't drop the ball, NASCAR did by not allowing proper time for testing.  Now that it happen, you can be certain more testing will prevail a tire that will handle the COT's down force on that track.