What Does NASCAR Do With All Those Used Tires After A Race?

A lot of components face wear and tear in a racecar during NASCAR races, and tires sit high on that list. Race tires are all about grip, not longevity. A NASCAR race tire has to put more than 750 horsepower to the ground and provide maximum traction at 200 miles per hour. A race tire lasts up to 100 miles, and the average length of a race is 400 miles. A NASCAR race team is allotted anywhere between five and 14 tire sets, depending on the race length (a team is allowed five sets to get through practice and qualifying). A racecar typically goes through nine to 14 tire changes during a race.

Four tires per change equates to anywhere between 36 and 56 tires, and if you consider each car in the 40-car NASCAR roster, that’s a freaking mountain of tires after each race. No, they don’t end up as bonfire fodder for a local festival. The answer lies in where these tires come from.

Source: Jalopnik