Tire Change

A tire change in motorsport is the process of removing worn tires from a race car and replacing them with fresh ones during a pit stop to maintain or improve performance.

During a race, tires experience extreme forces from high speeds, sharp turns, and constant braking. This stress causes the rubber to wear down, reducing the grip between the tire and the track surface. When tires lose grip, the car becomes slower and harder to control. To solve this problem, race teams bring the car into the pit lane—a designated area alongside the track—where a crew of mechanics quickly swaps out all four tires.

The speed of a tire change matters tremendously in racing. In Formula 1, elite pit crews can complete a full tire change in under two seconds. Even a half-second delay can mean losing positions to competing drivers. Teams practice tire changes repeatedly to achieve these incredibly fast times, with each crew member having a specific role in the choreographed process.

Not all racing tires are the same. Teams choose from different tire compounds—variations in the rubber mixture that affect how the tire performs. Softer compounds provide better grip but wear out faster, while harder compounds last longer but offer less traction. During a race, teams may change tires specifically to switch to a different compound that better suits current conditions or their strategy for the remaining laps.

Weather plays a major role in tire selection. If rain begins falling during a race, teams must change from slick tires (smooth tires used in dry conditions) to wet-weather tires that have grooves to channel water away. Making this change at the right moment can be the difference between winning and crashing.

Some racing series have rules that require tire changes. For example, Formula 1 mandates that drivers must use at least two different tire compounds during a race, forcing at least one pit stop. These regulations add strategic complexity, as teams must decide when to make their mandatory changes to minimize time loss.

Safety is another critical reason for changing tires. Worn tires are more likely to puncture or suffer a blowout—a sudden, dangerous failure. By monitoring tire condition and changing them before they become unsafe, teams protect their drivers from potentially serious accidents.

In endurance racing events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where cars race continuously for an entire day, tire changes happen many times throughout the event. Teams must balance tire life with performance, calculating how many laps they can complete on each set while maintaining competitive speeds.