Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I have been away from this message board for a while. Not sure if I am repeating a previous post or not. If so, please let me know and I'll delete it.

I believe it is time for someone in the WoO ranks to address the issue of GoodYear RR's failure to run a full "A" Main event. I know that Sammy Swindell has been the victim of exploding GY RR's on at least (4) occassions as well as other top WoO teams. At Charlotte, I recall at least (4) sprinters that suffered through a blown GY RR, including Sammy. I recall a blown GY RR at Eldora that cost Sammy the checkers - after checking out for an obvious dominant win he limped into the pits with a 4th place finish.

Being the vocal fan of Sammy that I am, I am sure that some on this board will ridicule me as chewing on sour grapes. That is fine.

Sammy and the BGTS #1 have been lightening quick right out of the box while other established young gunners have faltered (Shatz, Dollansky, etc). Also, it seems there has been a resurgence of the oldtimers on the WoO Tour (Sammy, Steve and Haud) as they have found consistent strong performances (Sammy winner, Steve winner, Haud winner and recent podium sweep in Kansas). It may be the oldtimers have found their setups to be conducive to the GoodYear tire while the youngtimers (that have not run GoodYears) may have struggled with dialing in their cars. Obviously, my opinion is unqualified but is at least worthy of consideration.

No one can discard the fact that GoodYear has cost several WoO teams a lot of CA$H (and points for those teams running for points) so far in 2010. I know that every team has access to the same GY tires. I don't believe a conspiracy exists. However, it is quite obvious that the performance of GY has been woeful to this point in the season.

Do you concur? What am I missing?

Is this a tire issue or a compound choice issue? Just asking.

I've read a few comments from the racers themselves; when you run the softest tire possible and have trouble... should have gone a little harder compound.

A few comments were made about blistering and the tire losing pressure soon afterward.

Joey Saldana had more than 1 or 2 Hoosiers pop while in the lead the last couple of years... at the speed these dudes are running tire issues will happen.

When Nascar teams blow right fronts at certain tracks the teams all claim "tire issue" despite the fact the setup is the culprit most of the time. Cranking crazy castor/camber angles on the right front tires... abusing the edge of the tire.

Sometimes the fast setup causes issues on tires. You're fast but the mechanical grip you're creating may have consequences with tire life.

I will stand by my theory that unless 1/2 to 3/4 of the field that night has the same problem with the same tire on the same night... your issue is tire choice and/or setup. It isn't fashionable to fill your fuel tank to the top, isn't "cool" to run a little harder tire... but sometimes it works.

Softest tire possible and less than a full tank... gambling. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't.

The All-Star races have been just fine on goodyeers and the racing has been greeat as wells,Thank You Mr. Webb for makin a greeat chouice on tires this year!

JAMES

There have been no more tire failures on Goodyear this year than Hoosier in past years and many would argue the racing has been better. These guys push everything to the limits and sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Do you know for certain that they were failures and not punctures? Maybe its just been a case of bad luck.

...

So far I think the GY has performed OK. I do think it has put the driver back into it. So far the Outlaws have had some great racing with a tight points battle and different winners. Maybe the side by side restarts are part of the reason but i think the GY has played a part in it also. My biggest concern with GY is the 50 laps at Knoxville. Hopefully the racers choose a harder compound and don't turn it into another KingsRoyal blowout last man standing race.

While Sammy has popped a few Goodyear RR tires, like others have said, it's prbably set up or compound choice....no one said a word about Hoosiers popping when Erin Crocker outlasted the boys at Tulare a few years back.....

Pick a harder compound, run more air, set the car up. Paul McMahan commented on hias FB page a while back that the race he won, he did so by saving tires.......

Chuck.....

Goodyears cant consistently make 20 laps at Knoxville(many left rear bvlowouts), how will they possibly make it 50? Its ridiculous how much money has been spent in tore up equipment so far and for what... so Goodyear can line the promoters pockets while the payout or point fund hasnt went up a nickel? The problems with Goodyears seem to be almost exclusively seem to be on the big tracks that carry more speed. JMO of course but it seems to be only benefiting one side of the racing community(albeit an important one), but it is in return hurting another important group(car owners) that are coming harder and harder to find every year it seems. We all know without cars in the field there will be no more races.

can you reiterate on the cars damaged in Knox because of a GY blowout this season ?, I'm having trouble? thought it was mainly driver errors.? personally Ive been happy with the GY performance , new winners, tires roll out at chalk marks (imagine that) ,I have had shipping damage on one , but was resolved immediately, to my knowledge, again as described above isn't the LR open compound in Knox also, maybe, a lack of reading -judging track abrasiveness on the tuners part? you gotta go the distance . simple as that ..

try racing weekly at Knoxville and see if you keep the same opinion about Goodyears. They haven't been a good tire to use in previous years at Knoxville and they aren't this year. Exploding tires have ruined wings, mufflers, drivers arms, axles, other cars destroyed that were in the same vicinity as the car with the tire that exploded and got caught up in it through no fault of their own, hurt fans when pieces fly into the granstands, etc. What other damages are you inquiring about? It appears there are very few track conditions that are compatible for the tires, whether you are talking 100 200, etc. When Knoxville allows a new RR for the A main or cuts laps because of tire conditions, you know they aren't a quality product, IMHO

that's my $.02

Money talks is why Goodyear is the dominant manufacture in the 410 class. They are floating Knoxville and the Outlaws $$. Without them neither one would have a points fund this year. With them people might not have cars left that are in one piece....lol

In PA, the racing has been significantly better than last year(Hoosier)and very few tires blown.

ya well, I guess ive just been watching Knox via live feed and havent seen the "true", up close tire wear problem? I Just dont recall the incidents desribed, as a outsider looking in, im apparently unaware of a "problem" (no sarcasum ) I personally, thought they were good thus far ? Ive thought Knox has been routinely heavy, through much of the nights thus far? in my area track, I havent seen any drawbacks vs the Hoosier , yet? same wear as far as im concerned? I have noticed Goodyear recomends no grooving, and nothing below 5lbs on the LR ... do you have any testimony on the conditioning and operating pressures the "Failed" tires went out at? or are you taking a generic stab at a product you dont like the name of ? just curious?

have no issue at all with the Goodyear 'name', my concern is for the safety of the drivers. The Goodyears have been considerably hotter than the old Hoosiers and since grooving a tire should actually help dissipate heat from the tire their recommending no grooving would seem to be an even bigger issue. I believe that every night or at least very very close to every night there has been at least one blown tire near the end of the 410 feature at Knoxville(if not multiple ones), and yes the track has been typically heavy, at least for Knoxville standards, which raises another concern since it is surely going to slick off as the summer wears on and the rain stops eventually(but it may never stop this year it seems).

I was at Lakeside Sat.night.The pits did not open until after victory lane interviews on the front stretch.They interviewed the top 3 drivers and then opened the pits,it took me a good 5 min to get in to the pits where I milled around looking at the cars.I watched a crew member taking off a left rear and dismount it,and throw it on the ground beside their trailer.I went over and picked the tire up to look it over and it was still HOT,you almost needed gloves on to pick it up.It had to have been every bit of 20-25 minutes since the tire had been on the track,I can only imagine how hot that tire was on the track.It was a Goodyear 95.

thats what makes a good driver is tire management

The tire still had 3/4th's tread left,still had the nibs on the edges.

Chalk up another one that NASCAR has brainwashed.

Anybody who has been to Knoxville this year I think would agree with Ethel.

Member of this message board since 1997