How does Goodyear decide which races to use inner liners?

Question

I don't think they had them at Pocono. Both Robbie Gordon and Jimmie Johnsom came in with flat tires and ground off their sway bars. With it being so far around Pocono why wouldn't they use an inner liner in the tire there or for that matter everywhere? What tracks do they use them at and why?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question, and I think a track like Pocono should use inner liners. However both blowouts were on the driver side, or left side of the car. A majority of the tire wear comes on the right side where the tires is normally abused the most So they could have used inner liners on the right side an Pocono, I am not sure... Here is a pretty good definition of inner liners:

Inner Liner: A safety feature first developed in 1966, think of it as a tire within a tire. The inner liner is inflated approximately 10 psi higher than the outer portion of the Goodyear Eagle race tire. Inner liners are used at oval tracks one mile or more in length.

Mainly they are used on the larger tracks and we all know that. You asked why they dont run them on all tracks. Well while inner liners are still reusable it still cost extra money (about $85 each) and when you consider a set of 4 tires runs around 2grand each pit stop, whats another 85 bucks per inner liner? Well inner liners have also been the cause of problems... just like leaving a lug nut loose can cause a vibration, so can an inner liner if it has a small leak or has the wrong amount air in them. Running an inner liner also limits what you can do with your tire pressures as well, so there is very little need to run an inner liner at small tracks because if you have a blow out you have to run 1/2 mile back to the pits...

So added money, potentially extra problems, and limitations on what you can do without an inner liner are the main reasons they dont run inner liners on smaller tracks... If you dont have inner liners at big tracks and you have a blow out just after the start finish line you are looking at 1.5 mins, or maybe even 2 mins that you have to run on a flat tire... adding to the sparks, and debris on the track you could even catch you car on fire in that 1.5-2 mins you might have to run to make it back to your pit.

I hope this helps

Answer 2

Lots of times they only run inner liners in the right sides as a blow right front is the most dangerous tire problem out there. I think they use them on every track over 1 mile as I understand it, but probably in some of those places, only on right sides. Also, some types of tire failures (most notably running over a huge chunk of debris) can wreck the inner liner as well...

Answer 3

I thought they used them on the SuperSpeedways just because of the speed of the track.

Certainly agree with you for Pocono. The speeds they reach you would think that they would have them there.

Answer 4

I mile tracks right side ,some 1 1/2 tracks use them in all four some only right side ,depends on banking, Atllanta,Talledega,Daytona in all 4 tires .