Calling All Experts

[Marc]

Calling All Experts, yes I'm looking at you Bram and Diandra, among others.

Goodyear is working on a taller, wider tire for the Sprint Cup Series and possibly be tested mid-season 2010.

Dustin Long notes the possible change in Thursday's Pilot Online.

Of the top of my head I guess the most advantage would be the additional width and might, I repeat might get the car to turn-in better.

However any change brings with it a required change in front-end geometry and once the tinkering starts with that all bets are off.

[Clance' McClannahan]

Well... I showed up for the call. Thought you needed an expert on being mechanically challenged.

[Marc]

Jesus H. on a Segway, I didn't even get to send out the note to all members noting this discussion and here you are.

The "all members" note should be hitting your inbox about now.

[Clance' McClannahan]

See how prompt and dedicated to you I am?

[Marc]

I suspect you're just looking for some type of stimulus package.

[jimmie g]

there goes my bump steer

[Diandra]

Hey Marc. I'm in Daytona working on this. The aspect ratio is an interesting issue. If you make the tire larger diameter, you either increase the sidewall width (which means more sidewall movement), or you increase the wheel size (which could make really big changes in the braking). If you make the tire overall taller, you introduce all kinds of issues with the suspension, the tech inspection, etc. I am doing a couple of interviews on this while I'm here over the weekend and I hope to have a more coherent analysis of the issue sometime after the weekend is over.

[Marc]

Thanks Diandra.

Somehow I had a feeling you'd be in Daytona working on this. My first thoughts were a wider tire would be the way to go, and as you point out adding to the overall height makes the switch much more difficult.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why GY doesn't try a wider only tire also, as long as money is being spent researching a new tire why not try both versions.