Bridgestone / Firestone

[macdaddy]

Dov's new thread, "Where We Stand", is a great one.

And I hate to put any kind of a damper upon it, but when I posted, "We have a commitment from Ford" it reminded me...

During the Penske-initiated reunification talks, it was mentioned that the primary force behind this was Bridgestone.

They said that they would support one series, not two.

Ford has committed to 2005.
Bridgestone has not.

You can have all the chassis, engines, teams, drivers and tracks in the world. But if you ain't got tires, you got nothing.

Has anybody heard anything from the Bridgestone camp since then? We'd be remiss if we overlooked something this important.

[Tim Northcutt]

The way I look at it, if Bridgestone decides to go with one series only, then Goodyear would step in to become the "official tire" of a major series....or Dunlop, in case OWRS would be the odd series out....or Michelin, if F-1 decides to go with one tire manufacturer...

If Bridgestone stays with OWRS, then the other Series would probably land Goodyear or Hoosier tires.....

Builders of racing tires aren't going to let that huge void remain open for very long.....there is way too much exposure value to let such an opportunity slide past....

So the tire manufacturer does not worry me that much....and there would be time for the new supplier to biuld tires and get them tested at tracks over the winter....

[Dov]

I'm not sure if it's when I was listning to the CC race on Global last Sunday or was reading a thread from another forum, but all I remember is Bridgestone would welcome some cometition from another tire manufacturer starting next year, however, I'm not sure what their plans are for '06.

[Cowboy]

Nice catch Macdaddy, with all of the speculation and hopes of what may come for the '05 year everyone forgot about the tires. It is a very valid concern but I will have to agree with Dov that it probably won't be too big of a deal since Bridgestone or Michelin or who ever would want to lose that kind of brand recognition.
Not to mention, at $2500 a set, the cash loss would be something that any of the tire manufacturer's would rather not lose.

[Cowboy]

Ooops, I ment that I was agreeing with Tim Northcutt. Not that I don't agree with you Dov, but your post wasn't there when I was typing.

[esorniloc]

In the ChampCar programme last Sunday there was a piece from Bridgestone where they said they would like another tyre war in ChampCar (Michelin or Goodyear).

[GTRMagic]

I was thinking Hoosier actually, rather than GoodYear...

[Uesque]

Goodyear bailed when they were getting clobbered by Firestone. Having NASCAR to themselves, do you think they would want to come back to a competitive situation?

[esorniloc]

Well when a series runs only one make of tyres, they are just tyres and no-one really cares what they are.

If there is a tyre war then you actually want to know what is on the cars and which is the best.

Well what would be good is if Goodyear, Michelin and Hoosier all entered and there was a 4-way tyre war!

[Uesque]

Originally posted by esorniloc
Well when a series runs only one make of tyres, they are just tyres and no-one really cares what they are.

NASCAR only runs one tire, and people actually buy raised Yellow letter tires for their cars and trucks. So I think with proper marketing, it does work.

[Dov]

A little birdy told me to look for Kumho to enter the CC tire war in '05 or '06!

[Snrub]

Originally posted by Dov
A little birdy told me to look for Kumho to enter the CC tire war in '05 or '06!

I don't necessarly like the results of tire wars, but it'll bring in money which CART needs. Kumho is a perfect fit because they need to raise their profile in North America and they have a higher than normal emphasis on performance.

[gttouring]

in regards to Champcar- a tyre war would be splendid
as the cars are identical save for 2 reynards, and the engines the same a little creative engineering in the tyres to provide big performances would be spectacular- then you know not just who is good but what tyres are making a difference- could be good.

[Dov]

Doesn't Kumho supply tires to some F3000 teams?

[Kicking-back]

No. F3000 uses Avon tyres.

Kumho supplies the F3 Euroseries though.

[Warwick]

Originally posted by Uesque
Goodyear bailed when they were getting clobbered by Firestone. Having NASCAR to themselves, do you think they would want to come back to a competitive situation?

Goodyear have Nascar to themselves due to buying the supply contract for a period of (I think) 5 years,not sure what happens after that.

It was rumored that Firestone were considering entering Nascar several years ago and that was what prompted Goodyears move.

I would think both companies would benefit from the competition if they were both involved in the same series as it would encourage development.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by Warwick
Goodyear have Nascar to themselves due to buying the supply contract for a period of (I think) 5 years,not sure what happens after that.

It was rumored that Firestone were considering entering Nascar several years ago and that was what prompted Goodyears move.

I would think both companies would benefit from the competition if they were both involved in the same series as it would encourage development.

What prompted Goodyear's move was Hoosier was in NASCAR and defeating Goodyear teams.
Hoosier announced they had new tire, combing the best or radial and bia-ply construction coming, that was far better than what they had, suddenly NASCAR signs an exclusive with Goodyear.
Goodyear had been complaining about the cost of continually having to build new, better tires, whilst adding that the continually improving tires were only going to make the cars continually faster; POOFspec. one brand tires became the rule.

Bob

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
What prompted Goodyear's move was Hoosier was in NASCAR and defeating Goodyear teams.
Hoosier announced they had new tire, combing the best or radial and bia-ply construction coming, that was far better than what they had, suddenly NASCAR signs an exclusive with Goodyear.
Goodyear had been complaining about the cost of continually having to build new, better tires, whilst adding that the continually improving tires were only going to make the cars continually faster; POOFspec. one brand tires became the rule.

Bob

Actually, Hoosier withdrew from NASCAR themselves in 1994 after Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr were fatally injured at Daytona during SpeedWeeks practice, both as a result of suspected Hoosier tire failures.

Tire failure was also the suspected cause of Andy Farr's horrific ARCA qualifying crash in which he flipped into the turn four wall and destroyed his car, surviving with a broken sternum and several other injuries. He too was on Hoosier tires.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by rustyfan
Actually, Hoosier withdrew from NASCAR themselves in 1994 after Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr were fatally injured at Daytona during SpeedWeeks practice, both as a result of suspected Hoosier tire failures.

Tire failure was also the suspected cause of Andy Farr's horrific ARCA qualifying crash in which he flipped into the turn four wall and destroyed his car, surviving with a broken sternum and several other injuries. He too was on Hoosier tires.

They had a new tire ready to go, when NASCAR did the spec. deal.
Bob