Most of the drivers are complaining about not having enough grip and the issue is compounded with the ill-handling COT. Do you think the racing would be better if the cars handled better or would you rather see a driver having to "wheel" a car and drive it on the edge?
2007-12-23 12:37:33 · 15 answers · asked by racefanvote 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Just to clarify, most of the drivers are wanting a softer compound. It's not something that I have heard the fans request so much.
The tire issue has been synonymous with the question of what the drivers thought of the COT (handling, etc.) that Goodyear needed to bring a softer tire.
The question here (to the fans) was whether they wanted to see the drivers have to work harder to "get-r-done" or give them a car that handled better.
2007-12-23 15:00:26 · update #1
I think that may help the car turn through the corner. But honestly the COT is unique and like many drivers have said, after several races they won't remember the old car and get used to it. What Goodyear needs to do is get one tire nailed down for each track and stop changing it.
2007-12-23 12:59:11 · answer #1 · answered by ambiguous_leaf 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Right now, the COT is still a work in progress so to speak. They don't corner as good as the old cars & the tires are definately a big issue. Hopefully during the testing something will get figured out with the suspension & steering. As far as the tires.....Goodyear definately needs to do some research to come up with a more workable tire that the drivers will like. Maybe come up with 2-3 different compounds and go from there. I think the racing would be a lot better if the cars handled better. If nothing else, it would cut down on the caution flags for spin outs.
2007-12-25 16:21:29 · answer #2 · answered by PJ ~88~ FAN 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They already use a wide variety of compounds now so the above answer doesn't know what they are talking about. As stated already it all depends on what track they are at and what compound to use for that certain track. A softer tire would benefit but would it blow out sooner as we have seen in the past. If they want a softer tire so bad switch to Hoosiers. The cars already handle just fine. Hendrick didn't seem to have a problem this year and look what they did with the COT. I'd say keep it the way it is. Too many changes already have been done.
2007-12-24 06:54:11 · answer #3 · answered by flatfootfred 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
... I'm sure that pushing the cars to the edge is exciting for the drivers and the fans. One thing that you have to keep in mind is driver safety. I know after hitting the walls a few times and suffering a few slight concussions the drivers would want as much grip as possible.
... I am not sure if there is a such thing as a perfect tire (softer or harder) because of the differences in track surfaces, banking, and temperatures. A tire with less grip may be desirable on tracks that cuts more G-forces but high speed tracks or flat tracks may need a lot more grip. The reason I say less grip is to slow them down some so when the tires do break loose they don't slam the wall as hard.
... In short I don't think it is possible to leave it alone. Conditions change and I think the biggest thing is having a tire manufacturer that can keep up with the changes.
... There are people here that actually race and may have a different opinion than mine. I am just a fan.
added:
... I think there is some features not yet figured out with the COT that Hendrick has figured out. I also think Richard Childress figured out something with the front sway bar (or front end) at the end of 2007 that gave them more grip. I remember Dale Jr saying that Hendrick's car handled smoother (if I am correct) during testing. So that may be a determining factor with added grip for the COT is doing more testing to see what works best with the COT.
2007-12-23 12:56:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
A softer tire will wear out faster. I think it's fine when the tires last a full fuel run. It doesn't matter what Goodyear does as far as soft or hard compounds as long as they don't blow out the way the have in the past. I think 2007 was pretty good as far as no tire stories much of the year. A good, hard tire is more consistent and takes more abuse. The only reason the cars handle like crap is all the stupid rules Nascar has in place. There isn't much room to work around in the new car.
2007-12-23 17:26:35 · answer #5 · answered by Jay 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Softer tires mean more pit stops and more blown right fronts and hard hits.
Softer tires do make it easier for the drivers that aren't that good or experienced. With a soft enough tire just about anyone who races could run a couple of good laps.
Harder tires require more experience, talent and patience. Those are the qualities I want the winners to have. If the harder tires cause a few inexperienced drivers to spin that is as it should be.
I really can't see why fans are so concerned about quickness or speed of the cars. You can't tell from the stands if all the cars are 1/2 second or 3 mph slower until they announce it.
I can see why the drivers and organizations that can't handle the COT would want a softer tire. I would rather see the cream rise to the top instead of the rules legislating equality.
2007-12-23 14:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by beth 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I want as much grip as I can when racing--but you still are up on the edge wheeling it around. I agree with Snake and others a Softer tire would Be a Disaster at Darlington--But it might help as a stop gap measure on other tracks until the suspension Package is Figured out--But even on the Old Cars some teams cant figure out the Suspension Anyways--Coil Binding and Changing Shocks during the race!!!! It will take someone smarter than me to give the Exact answer. One thing I do know the Guys will have their Hands full each track is different every time You run on it!!!!
2007-12-23 14:51:05 · answer #7 · answered by Ed P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The tires at Vegas and Charlotte were WAY too hard and they could hardly make the corners sometimes. Trying to make the tires last longer has created this situation and it was a knee jerk reaction on the part of the techs at Goodyear. Somehow they need to find a balance between durability and drivability in order to make the races the best they can be. Hopefully with using a more consistent car (handling wise) they can get a more consistent tire as well.
2007-12-25 09:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by Tregosteevo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
goodyear should have a softer compound tire until the teams figure out how to get the cot to handle better. the cot may need a different suspension set up than what nascar is allowing the teams to use. since they are trying to "modernize" the race car, maybe irs would be cool. the cot looks too much like a daytona prototype than a stock car
2007-12-23 14:17:57 · answer #9 · answered by racerwesu 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think we need to leave that up to NASCAR and Goodyear. There are very few people on these boards who are qualified to make that sort of assessment.
I personally like seeing drivers that are able to race ill handling cars. And the longer the tires last, the more action there is on the track.
2007-12-26 04:13:53 · answer #10 · answered by Bizz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋