posted by Savanah on Aug 24
One of the components that serves to ensure the safety of a race car driver, is the tires. Anyone who has known anyone involved in the industry, especially those guys driving the cars themselves, knows the importance of a high quality general tire. As in the tires of a street car, the tires of the NASCAR automobiles are radials. However, racing tires differ due to the requirements of the racing industry. The materials used for production, the rubber and the metal, must be stable during situations of high speed and extreme temperatures.
The ability to change a tire by the pit crew is of importance to the competitions, and the need for a high level of traction on the course is of importance to the driver’s safety. Race car tires are often filled with nitrogen rather than air, due to the decreased moisture of the chemical. When tires get hot, the moisture will tend to expand and vaporize at the same time, which serves to cause pressure increases within the tire itself.
These seemingly small differences affect the way the driver is able to maneuver his or her vehicle. With the use of nitrogen, more control is given to the team, and they will be better able to deal with cases of a discount tires overheating. When the speeds of a race are extreme, the requirements alter, giving the drivers the benefits of an inner lining. This is equivalent to having two tires on one axle, one mounted inside the other, but having its own supply of air.
In the case wherein an out tire blows, the inner one will remain intact and functioning. This allows the drive to stop in the pit in a safe manner, and have the entire tire changed. There are various compounds used on race tracks. Soft compounds allow for speed, but harder compounds allow for durability. The difference is in the consequential wear and tear on the Toyo tire, the first wearing out the inner tire, and that later wearing out the outer. In all cases, tires are one of the most important ‘parts’ of a racing car, not only for the win, but for the life of the driver in the car.
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