Even before NASCAR could iron out aerodynamic rules packages, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. had been hard at work preparing the new 18-inch tires for the car.
The 18-inch bead diameter tires required construction changes and new tread compounds due to the tire’s lower profile sidewall and the changes to the car’s design and weight. 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.
“A successful redesign the magnitude of Next Gen is a huge project, and one that has required the coordinated effort of the entire industry.”
It has been several decades since Goodyear has been involved in such an impactful redesign in NASCAR racing.
“In the early 1990s, Goodyear led the change from bias to radial tires, which enabled an evolution of the…
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