What Is the Difference Between Racing Tires & Ordinary Tires?
Most auto-racing enthusiasts can tell the differences between the tires used by NASCAR and the tires on your car. If you're not sure, however, here's some of the key differences.
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Regular Tires
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The average tire is designed to last approximately 50,000 miles, with treads and grooves designed to grip the road in a variety of circumstances. They come in a variety of sizes to fit different makes, models and needs, and typically are replaced about every three years.
Racing Tires
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Racing tires average a lifespan of about 150 miles, and usually are perfectly smooth, unless they are made for other types of racing like rally. They grip the road well but wear out extremely quickly. Many professional NASCAR teams go through an average of nine to 14 sets of tires in a single race.
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Special Features
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Many tire brands offer commercial "run flat" systems, which feature a variety of techniques to allow the car to continue on for a further distance after being punctured. With the number of accidents that occur in racing, most racing tires feature a "tire within a tire" offering the ability to pit in even if the tire has been damaged.
Other Differences
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Racing tires are usually almost twice the cost of normal street tires, require a different air pressure and are inflated with dry air or nitrogen instead of regular air like street tires.
Legality
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One of the most important differences between the two is that racing tires are illegal for use on public roads, as they are not labeled or tested to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations.
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