The option tire that NASCAR used multiple times last season will return in 2025, albeit at a new track. NASCAR will take it to Phoenix Raceway in the spring.
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The sanctioning body announced the news Wednesday afternoon and provided the number of tires available to the teams. They will have six sets of prime tires available for the race and two sets of the softer option tires.
Additionally, the teams will have one primary set of tires and one option set of tires for the practice session on Saturday, March 8. This will give them further insight into how the tires will react to the 1-mile track.
A NASCAR spokesperson said that if the option tire works well during the Phoenix spring race, it will become the primary tire for the championship race in November. Teams will not have option tires as teams compete for the final time in 2025.
As a refresher, the option tire provides more grip for the car and helps the drivers deliver faster lap times. However, the compound is far softer than the primary tires, so the tire wear is significantly higher.
The primary tires, for comparison, wear much slower so the drivers can maintain lap times for much longer.
The option tires first appeared during the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. They delivered the falloff and strategy calls that NASCAR sought, so the sanctioning body used them during the summer points race at Richmond Raceway.
There's pace in those option tires!
The Nos. 99 and 34 are charging through the field. 👀 pic.twitter.com/dsIv4TQNro
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2024
This second experiment with the red option tires delivered even more excitement. Michael McDowell and Daniel Suarez both put the option tires on at the start of Stage 2 while the rest of the drivers in the field stayed on the prime tires.
McDowell restarted at the rear of the field and raced his way inside of the top 10 in fewer than 20 laps. Suarez restarted 16th, took the lead in just over 10 laps, and went on to win his first stage of the season.
Suarez later used his second set of reds to work through the field once again in the final stage before overtime chaos unfolded. He ultimately finished 10th.
"It was fun, man," Suarez told FanBuzz on pit road after the race. "I give a huge credit to NASCAR and Goodyear for bringing this option tire, because it's a lot of fun. I don't see why we don't have an option tire everywhere we go."
