Stagger

Stagger is the difference in tire size between the left and right tires on the same end of a race car, used primarily in oval track racing to help cars turn left more easily.

In oval racing like NASCAR, cars spend most of their time turning left around the track. To make this easier, teams use larger tires on the right side of the car compared to the left side. This size difference is called stagger, and it's measured by the difference in circumference between the two tires.

Think of it like rolling a paper cup on its side - because one end is bigger than the other, the cup naturally curves toward the smaller side. Stagger works the same way on race cars. The larger right-side tires cover more ground with each rotation than the smaller left-side tires, creating a natural tendency for the car to turn left.

Teams measure stagger by inflating tires to race pressure and measuring the circumference of each tire. The difference between right and left tire measurements gives them the stagger amount. This measurement is crucial because even small differences can dramatically affect how the car handles.

Getting stagger right is a balancing act. Too much stagger makes the car "loose," meaning the rear end wants to slide out and potentially hit the wall. The car also fights the driver on straightaways, constantly trying to turn left when it should go straight. Too little stagger makes the car "tight" or "push," where it doesn't want to turn and heads toward the outside wall instead.

The ideal amount of stagger depends on several factors including track size, banking angle, tire type, and driver preference. Dirt track cars typically use more stagger than pavement cars because they need extra help turning in loose surface conditions.

Stagger can change during a race as tires heat up and grow larger, so teams must account for these changes when setting up their cars before hitting the track.