The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend with a notable change that could influence strategy and performance. Goodyear will debut a newly constructed right-side tire for both the Cup and Xfinity Series, pairing it with the familiar left-side tire used throughout 2025. While the track’s smooth surface and multiple grooves provide opportunities for close racing, teams will have to carefully balance speed and durability. Fans have reacted with curiosity, skepticism, and debate over how the new tire might impact racing dynamics in the playoffs.
Key Highlights
Goodyear introduces a new right-side tire for Cup and Xfinity Series at Kansas.
Tire setup pairs with the existing left-side tire used at similar tracks this season.
Cup teams have 10 sets of tires, Xfinity teams six, including practice and qualifying.
New tire aims to enhance strategy options for crew chiefs and race teams.
The same tire setup will be used later at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.
Fan Reactions Highlight Skepticism
Fans quickly weighed in on social media, reflecting mixed opinions about the timing and impact of the tire change.
“Anything but the car.” – Fan reaction
“They’re not going to make any changes to the car in the middle of the playoffs.” – Fan reaction
“Yup. As much as we dislike the car, this isn’t the best time to make significant changes to it. That’s going to have to wait until the offseason.” – Fan reaction
Some fans focused on the tire’s potential on-track effect.
“I wonder how this tire will compare. The Spring tire was honestly pretty good; the issue was Larson was super quick for 40 laps in a run and no run went over 50 laps.” – Fan reaction
“Does anyone understand what the expected difference on track will be for this new tire?” – Fan reaction
Others offered cautious predictions.
“Likely not much difference if any at all. This is the same tire they ran at Charlotte and Michigan which were not aggressive with the tire falloff.” – Fan reaction
“I think the right side tire compound is more important. I doubt we had great racing at Charlotte only because of the lefts.” – Fan reaction
Technical Details and Tire Strategy
Goodyear’s operations manager, Justin Fantozzi, explained that the new right-side construction underwent changes aimed at giving teams more flexibility on strategy.
“Kansas presents a unique set of conditions for teams — known for its relatively smooth surface, multiple grooves and close finishes — but recent races have shown notable tire wear. For both series, new right-side tires are being introduced after undergoing construction changes to increase strategy options for the crew chiefs. This weekend, teams will need to balance grip with outright speed to maximize performance of these new Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setups.” – Justin Fantozzi
Cup Series teams are allotted 10 sets of tires for the 267-lap, 400-mile Hollywood Casino 400, including practice and qualifying sets that carry over to the race. Xfinity Series teams will have six sets for the 200-lap, 300-mile Kansas Lottery 300. The tire allocation ensures teams have sufficient resources to experiment with setups during practice and qualifying sessions while preserving enough performance for the race.
Previous Tire Usage and Series Context
The left-side tire has already been used across several 2025 events. For the Cup Series, it was deployed at Charlotte, Michigan, Indianapolis, and Darlington, while Xfinity teams ran the same left-side tire at Las Vegas, Charlotte, Texas, and Nashville. The introduction of a new right-side tire aims to complement the established left-side setup, potentially altering tire wear patterns, race pace, and pit strategy.
Track conditions at Kansas add an additional layer of complexity. The 1.5-mile speedway is known for multiple racing grooves and high-speed corners, which place significant stress on the right-side tires. Crew chiefs will need to consider both the tire’s grip and long-run durability when making decisions about pit stops and in-race adjustments.
Strategic Implications for the Playoffs
The Kansas event is part of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule, increasing the stakes for every decision on tire management and car setup. Fans’ skepticism reflects concerns that mid-season tire changes might not be the ideal timing for experimentation during a critical playoff round.
“They’re not going to make any changes to the car in the middle of the playoffs.” – Fan reaction
“Yup. As much as we dislike the car, this isn’t the best time to make significant changes to it. That’s going to have to wait until the offseason.” – Fan reaction
Crew chiefs will have to weigh tire performance against vehicle stability and lap speed. The Kansas tire could affect not just the outright pace of cars but also the durability of stints, altering the timing of pit stops and the effectiveness of tire management strategies over long runs.
News in Brief: NASCAR Fans Skeptical About Goodyear’s Tire Changes Ahead of Kansas
Goodyear introduces a new right-side tire for the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series this weekend at Kansas Speedway, pairing it with the existing left-side tire used at similar tracks this season. Cup teams have 10 sets, including practice and qualifying tires, while Xfinity teams have six. The new tires aim to enhance strategy options for crew chiefs amid playoff pressures. Fans offered mixed reactions, expressing skepticism and curiosity about on-track impact.
ALSO READ: Complete Guide to NASCAR Playoffs at Kansas Speedway This Weekend
