Goodyear switches tires for fall race at Dover

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Representatives of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company said Saturday that a different compound tire will be used for the Sept. 22 MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover International Speedway than what was used in June.

	Winston Cup cars will carry a different Goodyear tire at Dover in September. Credit: ASP

On the other hand, Goodyear said that after two tests at Richmond International Raceway that followed-up the Pontiac Excitement 400 weekend in May, the same tire would be used there Sept. 7 for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400.

Dover's one-mile high-banked concrete oval is seen as one of the biggest challenges by the tire manufacturer due to the tire wear created by the concrete surface and the excess tire heat that's generated.

"We have documented an increase in tire operating temperatures (at Dover)," Goodyear Tire engineer Graham Gott said. "Along with the normal progression of the cars, the tire needs to change to the track. This is a proactive solution by Goodyear -- a different avenue."

"Whereas our tires this season have in general been harder," Goodyear spokesperson Carole Swartz said, "we are looking at a slightly different tire to provide more grip, a little more wear and to give up a little more in terms of performance."

Swartz said the change is all in the interest of one simple goal.

"We are stepping away from the harder tire for this race only to control heat buildup," she said. "When the tread is softer and wears more it dissipates heat more readily (so) we are changing just the tread compound, not the actual construction."

Swartz said the manufacturer would bring more tires to aid teams in the adjustment to the change.

"We'll have more tires brought than we traditionally do, just because of the differences," she said. "Dover is unique and the things they deal with there they don't deal with anywhere else."

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The change is the fifth Goodyear has effected from last year to this. In addition to new tires for the tracks in Richmond, Va.; Loudon, N.H.; and Phoenix -- which are the same; Goodyear also changed the left side tires for Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Swartz said the same tire that was used at Richmond in May would appear again in September. Tire performance was one of the things that was questioned in May but it's been said that two coats of asphalt sealer that were applied before the Pontiac Excitement 400 were the culprit in the slipping and sliding conditions.

Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart made a comparative tire test after the event weekend, then, at NASCAR's request, Stewart, Ricky Rudd and Jimmie Johnson returned for a second test after a midsummer event that included an Indy Racing League race. The conclusion was the sealer had "cured" enough to make a tire change inappropriate.

Swartz also said any compound changes necessary in 2003 would be considered on a case-by-case basis as NASCAR made any rule changes that would affect tire performance, such as aerodynamic adjustments.