Tear-offs

Tear-offs are thin, transparent plastic sheets that drivers and riders stick to their helmet visors or windshields to keep their vision clear during races.

Think of tear-offs like protective layers you can peel away when they get dirty. Drivers stack multiple sheets on top of each other before a race starts. When mud, oil, or debris makes it hard to see, they simply grab a tab and pull off the dirty layer to reveal a clean one underneath.

These plastic films are essential in motorsport because visibility can mean the difference between winning and crashing. During a race, all sorts of things can splatter onto a driver's visor - mud from other cars, oil from engines, or even insects. Instead of trying to wipe the visor clean while driving at high speeds, drivers can quickly tear off the dirty layer in seconds.

You'll see tear-offs used across different types of racing. Formula 1 drivers use them on their helmet visors to deal with debris and rain. Motocross riders attach them to their goggles because dirt bikes kick up huge amounts of mud and dirt. NASCAR drivers use tear-offs on both their helmets and car windshields.

The plastic sheets are designed to be extremely thin so they don't distort vision, but strong enough that they won't tear accidentally. Drivers can stack up to 10 or more layers depending on how dirty the race conditions might be.

There are two main types: standard tear-offs that come as individual sheets, and laminated tear-offs where multiple layers are stuck together for better clarity. Some racing series have rules about where drivers can throw used tear-offs - they're usually not allowed to toss them on the track where they might cause problems for other drivers.

Tear-offs also protect the actual visor or windshield from getting scratched or permanently damaged, which saves money on expensive racing equipment.