Get ready for a game-changer in NASCAR—because Goodyear’s bold move with their new right-side tire in the 2025 season is about to flip the racing world on its head. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some drivers are thrilled, others are scratching their heads, wondering if this shift will level the playing field or create an even bigger divide. Let’s dive in.
Starting at Kansas in September and rolling into Las Vegas in October, Goodyear introduced a tire designed to increase wear and force teams to rethink their strategies. The goal? To push drivers into smarter tire management, longer green-flag runs, and more strategic pit stops. Justin Fantozzi from Goodyear described it as a grip-speed balancer—a term that might sound technical but essentially means it’s a tool to spice up races on smoother tracks like Kansas. And this is where RFK’s Ryan Preece steps in with a prediction that’s turning heads.
And this is the part most people miss: Preece, in a recent interview, pointed out that drivers like him and Chase Elliott, who cut their teeth in late models, are uniquely positioned to thrive under these new conditions. Why? Because late model racing demands mastering long green-flag runs and nursing tires through aggressive laps—skills that are now front and center in NASCAR. Preece said, ‘A lot of us drivers have been talking about needing tire wear and how it changes race approach. This falls into our wheelhouse.’ Bold words, but are they backed by results?
At Las Vegas, Preece put his money where his mouth is. Despite a penalty early in the race, he charged back to finish ninth, showcasing how tire strategy can turn setbacks into comebacks. ‘Once fresh tires were on, it was go time,’ he said, highlighting how the new compounds allow for explosive finishes. But not everyone is sold. After Goodyear’s tire experiment at Bristol, Ryan Blaney admitted, ‘The tires were interesting. No one expected that. I guess that’s what they want.’ So, is this innovation or overcomplication?
Here’s the kicker: the new wear patterns shift the focus from babying tires to unleashing full-throttle aggression on restarts. Preece’s late-race surge at Vegas proved that mastering these compounds can turn strategy into firepower. But it’s not just about speed—it’s about patience. Preece himself admitted, ‘I need to be a little bit more patient with some of the things I’m learning,’ after narrowly missing a top-six finish. So, is this a skill gap or a learning curve?
With three races left in the season, Preece is gunning for his first Cup win, all while Goodyear’s tire changes keep rewriting the playbook. But here’s the question: Will this new tire design crown the truly skilled drivers, or will it leave some teams in the dust? Let us know what you think in the comments—because this debate is far from over.
