Control Tire

A control tire is a standardized tire that all competitors in a racing series must use, supplied by a single manufacturer chosen by the series organizers.

In most forms of motorsport, tires play a crucial role in a car's performance. Different tire designs, rubber compounds, and construction methods can give teams significant advantages. However, when a racing series adopts a control tire policy, it removes this variable from the competition. Every team and driver uses identical tires, meaning no one can gain an edge through superior tire technology.

The primary purpose of implementing control tires is to create a level playing field. By standardizing the tires, race organizers ensure that victories are determined by driver skill, team strategy, and vehicle setup rather than which team has access to better tire technology. This approach makes competitions more about talent and tactics than engineering budgets.

Control tires also serve an important financial function. Tire development is extremely expensive, requiring extensive testing, research, and multiple iterations. When series mandate a single tire supplier, teams save money because they don't need to invest in their own tire development programs or maintain relationships with multiple tire manufacturers. This cost control is especially beneficial for smaller teams with limited budgets.

The tire manufacturer selected as the control tire supplier typically signs a multi-year contract with the racing series. For example, Pirelli currently supplies control tires for both the World Rally Championship and Formula 1. In NASCAR, Goodyear serves as the exclusive tire provider. These manufacturers work closely with series officials to develop tires that suit the specific demands of each racing format.

While all competitors use the same tire brand and specifications, many series offer different tire compounds to add strategic variety. Compounds refer to the rubber mixture used in the tire, which affects grip and durability. Softer compounds provide more grip and faster lap times but wear out quickly. Harder compounds last longer but offer less immediate performance. Teams must decide which compounds to use and when to change tires during a race, making tire strategy a critical element of competition.

Some racing series take the control tire concept further by limiting the number of tire sets each team can use during a race weekend. These allocation rules add another strategic layer, forcing teams to carefully manage their tire usage across practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself.

The control tire system differs from open tire competition, where multiple manufacturers compete against each other and teams can choose their preferred supplier. While open competition can drive tire innovation, it often leads to significant cost increases and can create performance disparities that overshadow driver ability.