Tire Barrier

A tire barrier is a safety wall made from old tires that are stacked and bolted together to protect drivers when race cars crash into them.

These barriers work like giant cushions along the racetrack. When a car hits a tire barrier, the tires compress and absorb much of the crash energy, which helps slow the car down more gently than hitting a concrete wall would. This reduces the violent forces that could seriously injure the driver.

You'll find tire barriers placed in the most dangerous spots around racetracks, especially on the outside of sharp turns where cars often slide off course. They're also common along high-speed sections where a crash could be particularly severe, and near pit lane entrances where cars are entering and exiting at different speeds.

To build a tire barrier, track workers bolt multiple rows of used tires together to create a stable wall. Sometimes they fill the tires with sand or foam to make them even better at absorbing impacts. The barriers are typically at least three feet tall and several rows deep, depending on how much protection is needed in that area.

While tire barriers are excellent for lower-speed impacts, they have limitations at very high speeds above 60 mph. Modern racetracks often combine them with newer safety systems like foam blocks or specialized steel barriers for maximum protection.

You can see tire barriers at almost every type of racing event, from local go-kart tracks to major Formula 1 races. They're popular because they're relatively inexpensive to build using recycled tires, yet they provide crucial protection that has saved countless lives in motorsports over the decades.

The international racing organization FIA has specific rules about how tire barriers must be constructed and placed to ensure they meet safety standards for professional racing events.