SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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TREAD TALK Representatives of Tire Manufacturers Discuss Their Involvement With SCORE Desert Racing And Its Effects On Tire Development By Dan Sanchez Photos courtesy of the manufacturers SCORE Desert Racing wouldn’t be what it is today without the latest tire developments. No matter how sophisticated or powerful off-road vehicles have become, they would not be possible without advances in tire technology. We contacted several representatives of tire manufacturers who are used by many SCORE off-road racing teams, to give us some insight into their history in racing and what developments have come from their involvement. Included in this prestigious group are Matt Hanlon, BFGoodrich Tires Motorsports Product Engineer, Toyo Tires Motorsports and Events Manager Adrian Puente, Maxxis Product Strategy Director John Wu, and Tensor Tire Director of Engineering Sean Kleinschuster. Look for the 2024 Off-Road Tire Guide In the Next Issue! SJ: What is your company’s most notable history and top successes while participating in SCORE? Matt Hanlon - BFG: BFGoodrich Racing has won 33 overall SCORE Baja 1000 titles and has tallied more than 100 SCORE series overall wins. BFGoodrich first competed in the Baja 1000 in 1976. In 1977, we had our first major off-road victories for Radial All Terrain T/A: Frank Vessels won both the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in SCORE Class 8 (unlimited full-size pickup). In 1979, BFGoodrich began the iconic BFG pit program. Our first overall SCORE Baja 1000 victory came in 1986 with Mark McMillin on second-generation Radial All-Terrain T/A tires. It was the first of what would become a 20-year streak of overall Baja 1000 wins. Some highlights over the last few years include helping Rod Hall race his 50th consecutive Baja 1000, winning the 50th anniversary of the SCORE Baja 1000 in 2017 with Apdaly Lopez, and notching our 100th overall win in Baja at the 2022 SCORE San Felipe 250 with Luke McMillin. John Wu-Maxxis: Our history with SCORE actually goes back many years and includes our sponsorship of the late, legendary Pistol Pete Sohren, whom we supported for many years and who took his first Class 7 SCORE Baja 1000 and SCORE Baja 500 victories on Maxxis tires. More recently, our athletes have won the Class 7 SCORE Baja 1000 twice on RAZR MT tires, and they’ve won the Class 7 SCORE Baja 500 three times. The Honda Talon was first in SxS Pro NA on the RAZR XT the same year that tire was introduced. We’ve also won SCORE motorcycle classes 13 times, including this year’s SCORE San Felipe 250. Adrian Puente - Toyo: In 2023, Bryce Menzies secured victory in the SCORE Baja 1000, adding to his impressive wins in the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 400 throughout the season. This triumphant streak culminated in Menzies claiming the prestigious 2023 Unlimited Trophy Truck Champion title. In addition to Menzies’ achievements, SCORE TT Spec racer Jason McNeil became the 2023 World Desert Champion. Moreover, Team Toyo drivers have displayed remarkable dominance in off-road racing, with Alan Ampudia’s most recent win making it three SCORE San Felipe 250 wins for Toyo Tires, with victories from Ampudia (2024), Bryce Menzies (2021), and Andy McMillin (2019). Additionally, Team Toyo has won the SCORE Baja 1000 five times, with victories from Menzies (2023), Ampudia (2019), BJ Baldwin (2012 and 2013), and Robby Gordon (2006); The SCORE Baja 500 five times: Menzies (2023), Andy McMillin (2017 and 2019), Tavo Vildósola (2016), and Gordon (2013); And the SCORE Baja 400 three times with Menzies (2023, 2022, 2021). Sean Kleinschuster- Tensor: Tensor Tire made its debut as a UTV race tire brand during the 2016 SCORE Baja 1000 on Rhys Millen’s Polaris, securing victory the first time the tire was put into competition. Since then, we have developed multiple variants of our winning race tires specifically designed for high-performance UTV and lightweight buggy applications. SJ: If Baja is the ultimate proving ground for testing and development, what significant features and capabilities have been added to your off-road tires because of it? JW: The most challenging aspects of tire development for desert racing, including Baja, are durability and traction. Continuously improving performance requires R&D to try different materials, engineer new processes, and come up with innovative solutions to unique problems. Some of the technology has made it onto our everyday light truck tires, improving their performance as well. AP: At Toyo Tires, we firmly believe that off-road racing, particularly in challenging terrains like Baja, serves as the ultimate testing ground for tire development. Through our involvement in such races, we continuously gather valuable insights and feedback from our team of skilled drivers, allowing us to refine and enhance the features and capabilities of our off-road tires. Every race we participate in provides us with real-world data on tire performance, durability, and traction in extreme conditions. We meticulously analyze this information and integrate it into our research and development process. By leveraging the learnings and technology derived from our race tires, we can incorporate advanced design elements and materials into our consumer tire lineup. MH: Baja has always been our laboratory. What we see racing in Baja is an amplified and exaggerated version of what the everyday user puts their tires through. Building a tire to withstand 1000+ hp and more than 140 mph speeds for hundreds of miles through boulder fields, dunes, mud, and gravel roads requires very rigorous engineering and development. These extreme conditions have helped us develop new tread patterns, specialized rubber compounds, and unique sidewall constructions. When it comes time to develop the road-going counterparts for the race tires, these new developments are utilized to bring similar characteristics to tires like the Mud-Terrain KM3, the HD-Terrain KT, and the new All-Terrain KO3. For example: CoreGard technology, BFGoodrich’s upper sidewall reinforcement, was proven in Baja on the KR2 before being released on the All-Terrain KO2. Additionally, the tread pattern for the Mud-Terrain KM3 was derived directly from the tread pattern for the KR2, while being specifically tuned for conditions that aren’t normally seen while racing in Baja, like snow. SK: Tire compound and longevity are the primary concerns for our main UTV race customers. Our top teams aim to complete the entire race on a single set of tires, avoiding time-consuming changes during tight and intense races where track position is crucial. SJ: Are there still areas tire manufacturers are seeking to improve upon, or is this constantly changing with vehicle technology and power? SK: Tire and wheel size combinations are currently a major topic of discussion. Through our partnership with Method Race Wheels, we have been able to rapidly and discreetly test numerous tire and wheel size combinations. This allows teams the opportunity to equip the largest brakes, minimize sidewall flex for enhanced stability and compliance, and reduce the overall package weight. MH: It’s a never-ending cycle; as the tire evolves, race drivers are able to push harder and the vehicle/parts fall behind. Then the vehicle/parts are upgraded and the tire falls behind. The two biggest focus areas in racing are tread aggression and puncture resistance. We are always trying to prevent unexpected tire changes, but at the same time, we want racers on BFGoodrich tires to be able to go further between planned changes. This helps reduce costs and improve logistics for the racer while giving them a better shot at victory by spending less time in the “pits.” AP: Tire manufacturers are constantly striving for improvement and are influenced by the wide landscape of vehicle technology and power. Balancing the support for higher horsepower, larger wheel sizes, and evolving drivetrains with the need for tires capable of handling harsh off-road terrains remains a key focus. With emphasis on durability, traction, and puncture resistance, meeting those demands of off-road racing requires tire manufacturers to adapt to meet these needs. From compound improvements to innovative tread designs and more, Toyo continues to display proven product performance. JW: We are constantly working to minimize tire failures. Advances in vehicle technology consistently demand more from our tires, so we continue to evolve and move forward in that area. We’re also constantly looking for new ways to improve other areas of performance, too. SJ: Racing tires are obviously not for the street, but does some of the technology learned here make it into off-road tires for enthusiast’s trucks and UTVs? MH: Absolutely! Tread patterns, compounds, and constructions from racing are all used as the foundation for our street and UTV tires. Of course, the demands on a street tire are a little different from those of a SCORE Trophy Truck, so the technology is usually adapted to be more suitable for the application. At the same time, it’s not entirely true that road tires and race tires are totally different: The tires we race in a lot of classes in Baja, such as Baja Challenge, are exactly the same tires you would buy off the shelf for your daily driver! JW: Yes, to a certain extent. The main issue is production cost and how much enthusiasts are willing to pay. There are some competition off-road tires you can buy that are already $1000+/tire. If we were to market an off-road tire with our latest technology to the typical truck or UTV enthusiast AND make a decent profit, the cost probably wouldn’t be feasible for the consumer. SJ: Many SCORE fans have vehicles that they use both off-road and on the highway. Which products would you recommend to someone wanting great traction in the mountains or desert, and with smooth operation while driving on the street and highway in all weather conditions? AP: When considering the diverse needs of SCORE fans who navigate both off-road terrain and highways, Toyo offers a range of products tailored to various driving requirements. However, for those seeking excellent traction in mountainous or desert conditions, along with smooth operation on highways in all weather conditions, the Open Country A/T III stands out as a versatile choice. This tire balances off-road performance with on-road comfort, with a tread design that ensures dependable traction on rough terrain, while still providing a comfortable and quiet ride on paved surfaces. JW: The first Maxxis product that comes to mind is our RAZR MT mud terrain tire. This off-the-shelf production tire has been proving itself in Baja, and we’ve had some good success with the Honda off-road team. The RAZR MT has a robust casing design with deeply sculpted tread blocks and armor-inspired sidewalls and is an excellent off-road/on-road enthusiast’s tire. In addition to its great off-road performance, this tire is known to ride well on the highway and is one of the quietest mud terrain tires on the market. It’s available in popular LT and flotation sizes, ranging from 31” up to 40” OD and 15”-18”, 20”, and 22” rim diameters. For the enthusiast who needs a bit more on-road refinement and winter performance, we would recommend the RAZR AT all-terrain tire. Just like the RAZR MT, our RAZR AT sports an aggressive look, but the AT is quieter on the highway, and it’s Snowflake-certified for better winter performance than a regular M+S tire. MH: BFGoodrich has a variety of products available to suit different lifestyles and usage needs. The All-Terrain KO3 tire is a great option for people who want excellent off-road traction coupled with smooth operation on the highway. For more extreme off-road needs, BFGoodrich offers the Mud-Terrain KM3 tire. For a heavier emphasis on load-carrying and high-torque applications, BFGoodrich developed the HD-Terrain KT tire, a design specifically targeted at towing with ¾- and 1-ton pickups. SJ Look for the 2024 Off-Road Tire Guide In the Next Issue!