A taller, wider tire from Goodyear _ that some say would improve the racing _ could be on the track for testing later this year and possibly run in some races next year, a Goodyear official told me.

 

“We don’t have any intention of racing it in 2009,’’ Greg Stucker, director of Goodyear's race tire sales, said. “It’s still early on.’’

 

Stucker said Goodyear has been testing the tire in a lab “just to try to get a handle on what changes this diameter and width does make.’’

 

Stucker said it's Goodyear’s intention to test the tire at a track in the second half of the season. He admits it’s possible the tire could be used in races in 2010 “probably in a limited scenario.’’

 

Most likely the new tire would debut at the short tracks _ just like the Car of Tomorrow did. That provides a limited testing ground and takes place at tracks (Martinsville, Richmond and Bristol) where tires are not abused as much as they are at places like Darlington, Atlanta and Indy.

 

"I think that’s where our discussions with NASCAR and the teams have to come into play,’’ Stucker said. “Do you just want to make that change and step into it or do you want to go across the board? What’s the right way to do it? I think that a lot of that is going to be determined by … with our tire change, what kind of car changes have to coincide with it? We have to think through the process completely and make sure we kind of cover all the bases before we really lay out what that plan should be.’’

 

A taller, wider tire has been something teams and drivers have talked about as a way to help improve the racing. Such a tire would give drivers more grip and should help with handling.

 

"We’re operating right on the edge of the envelope for our current package,’’ Stucker said. “The new car definitely seems to stress tires differently with the additional right-side weight, it’s harder on those right sides. We would like to go taller and wider to kind of open up the durability envelope of the tire, make the tire a little bit more forgiving and a little less sensitive to maybe guys missing the setup or maybe being more aggressive on their setups.’’

 

But a change this dramatic would likely cause teams to have to make adjustments to the front and rear of the cars. That creates a dilemma for NASCAR, Goodyear and teams. How much to expand the tires and what it will do the car.

 

“When you raise the car up, obviously, you change your suspension pickup points and so on and so forth,’’ Stucker said. “We’re trying to be very careful in approaching this. If there are going to be changes necessary make sure they’re the right changes and let’s think through it. We’re proceeding fairly cautiously.’’

 

Stucker says Goodyear has yet to determine exactly how much taller and wider the tire will be. The current tire, he said, is 28.5 inches tall and the treadwidth is 11-12 inches depending on the track configuration.

 

Stucker said Goodyear is looking at making the tire 1.5 to 2 inches taller and 1.5 to 2 inches wider.

 

Such a change will force Goodyear to alter the machinery that produces the tires.

 

”We’ve got to make some fairly significant changes, which we are in the process of planning and getting ready to do,’’ Stucker told me. “That’s going to take some time to upgrade all of that equipment.

 

# A few other quick hits on tires:

 

Stucker told me that Goodyear will go to Atlanta in March with a "slight change'' to what they raced in the fall. They've made a construction change. Same compound they raced on the right side but a little softer left-side compound to help with grip.

 

Teams also will have a different tire for Daytona. Last year's 500 was the first time the new car raced there and teams were blistering right-side tires. Stucker said that Goodyear has come back with "a litle bit tougher right-side compund'' and put that with the left-side tire Goodyear had at Daytona in July.

 

Goodyear also has tested at Texas and did a Phoenix test for the mile tracks and found some improvments there, he said.

 

As for Indy, Goodyear plans to have two more tests. One will be in April with a small group to build upon the three tests Goodyear conducted last fall. Then, Goodyear is looking to have a test with the actual race tire in early to mid-June to confirm Goodyear's findings. This test likely would have several cars and, depending on NASCAR's decsion, could possibly be open for all teams.