Same Tires in 2003? According to Ford Racing’s Goodyear sources, the tire line up and construction practices, have been fixed in stone for the 2003 season. With that comes the reality that a softer, racier, tire apparently wont be part of the Goodyear offering for 2003. The tires, which one noted Ford driver calls “as hard as stainless steel”, were being looked at by NASCAR and a test of a softer compound tire was run in early August of this year. Those tests, which were run in conjunction with a larger greenhouse car, gave the drivers a bit more feel back in their cars which is something that they’ve been looking for for some time now. But those hopes of improved feel apparently aren’t part of the Goodyear program for 2003 and with the exception of a few stand-alone Busch events the tires will follow the 2002 menu. The one notable exception is the newly designed Dover tire, which was run in September of this year when the tour was at that venue. That tire, and its pleasant handling and wear characteristics, will be carried over to both Dover shows this year.(Ford Racing)(11-27-2002)
