SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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TREAD TALK Off-Road Tire Manufacturers Discuss Lessons Learned In Baja By Dan Sanchez One of the best things to come from off-road racing in Baja is a better tire. Tire manufacturers have taken what they’ve learned from the brutal terrain that combines rock crawling, dry lake beds, and deep silt to design tires that handle all of it at both high and low speeds. SCORE Journal spoke with top off-road tire manufacturers who provided several of their experts to offer insight into the latest technologies and innovations. Among those we talked to are Matt Hanlon, Motorsports Product Engineer at BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE International; Wendle Jiang, Senior Engineer - R&D at Chimera Tires; Richard Kelsey, Sales Director at Chimera Tires; and Shean Kleinschuster, VP Engineering and Procurement at Tensor Tires. SCORE Journal: What changes to your tire design come directly from your company’s involvement in off-road racing and partnerships with teams? Matt Hanlon: BFGoodrich’s involvement in off-road racing, especially SCORE races in Baja, serves as a real-world laboratory for tire development. The extreme conditions racers face – including high horsepower, high speeds, silt, sharp rocks, and punishing terrain -- accelerate innovation in ways traditional testing cannot replicate. Through constant collaboration with race teams, we’ve introduced advancements in tread design, rubber compounds, and casing construction. That feedback loop is critical. Racers provide immediate, real-time input both during competition and controlled testing environments, allowing our engineering teams to continuously refine performance. An example is our CoreGard sidewall technology, which was proven on our Baja race tires before being adapted to our production All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire line, and now the KO3 tire. Similarly, tread patterns from race-proven tires like the Baja T/A KR series directly influenced the development of consumer products such as the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tire. Sean Kleinschuster: Over the years, we [Tensor Tires] have mostly adjusted tread compounds from our partnerships and their feedback. We have always had robust construction, but over the last couple of years, vehicle performance has increased significantly, requiring compound changes to maximize the performance of these vehicles. Richard Kelsey: Growing up in Idaho and living the off-road lifestyle shaped my beliefs about what makes a great tire. Having spent years riding and racing motocross, I’ve learned that everything comes down to three things here at Chimera Tires: traction, predictability, and durability. Traction is about giving the rider confidence that the tire will hook up when accelerating, braking, or cornering across a wide range of terrain. Predictability- when a tire breaks loose, it should do so in a controlled, consistent way so the rider always knows what to expect. Durability- the tire maintains its performance over time, resisting chunking, excessive wear, and damage so riders can count on it ride after ride. Those three principles are the foundation of how we evaluate and develop tires. Whether the rider is racing, trail riding, or exploring backcountry terrain, the goal is the same: build a tire that inspires confidence and performs consistently in real-world conditions. SJ: What specific features make your off-road tires stand out from the competition? SK: Tensor tread designs provide great handling characteristics in a range of terrains, while our product’s construction produces robust tires that are some of the lightest in the categories we compete in. Wendle Jiang: We at Chimera Tires focus heavily on application-specific tread designs, ensuring that every tire is optimized for its intended terrain and riding conditions. In addition, we incorporate reinforced sidewall protection, advanced cut-resistant and low-heat generation compounds, and extensive field testing in mud, rocks, gravel, desert terrain, and hard-packed trails before entering mass production (PPAP-Production Part Approval Process), to make sure we deliver the ideal balance of traction, durability, ride comfort, and long-term performance. RK: Chimera Tires focuses strictly on the fundamentals that deliver real-world off-road performance. That starts with using high-quality rubber compounds that improve treadwear, traction, and durability. We also incorporate an upgraded sidewall construction to increase carcass stability and puncture resistance without making the tire unnecessarily stiff. Our crown radius tread profile is designed to provide more predictable steering and better control in ruts, rocks, and uneven terrain. MH: BFGoodrich off-road tires stand out due to a combination of race-proven engineering, purpose-built designs, and advanced materials. First, we design each tire size and application specifically for its intended vehicle and use -- not a one-size-fits-all approach. This ensures optimal performance across different classes, loads, and terrains. Second, our advanced rubber compounds are continuously refined through global motorsports experience and real-world testing. These compounds are engineered to deliver durability, grip, and longevity across a range of conditions, from desert racing to daily driving. Finally, features like reinforced sidewalls (CoreGard) and race-derived tread patterns combine to create tires that offer both extreme durability and versatility for enthusiasts. SJ: We see increasing tire diameter sizes in off-road—how does this affect traction, and is there a balance between unsprung weight and fuel economy? • Luke McMillin started the 2026 SCORE Season running BFGoodrich’s new 42-inch tires - Get Some Photo MH: Larger tire diameters have become increasingly popular because they can improve ground clearance and obstacle approach angles. They also offer better overall traction, particularly in rocks, sand, and deep ruts. A larger tire can increase the contact patch when aired down, improve flotation in soft terrain, and provide better rollover capability over obstacles. However, these benefits come with trade-offs. Larger tires typically increase unsprung weight and rotational mass, which can affect acceleration, braking, suspension response, and fuel efficiency. BFGoodrich’s engineering focus is on balancing these factors. For example, reducing tire weight and optimizing construction to maintain durability while minimizing negative impacts. In racing applications like UTVs, we’ve specifically reduced rotating mass while improving compliance and traction to maintain performance without sacrificing toughness. SK: Given the same tire construction, a larger diameter tire can, generally, be operated at a lower inflation pressure than the same tire with a smaller diameter. This can increase the contact patch surface area and traction. Refueling is typically part of competition, and most teams do not make component decisions with fuel economy as the primary factor. However, with races being won with dimensioning margins, if you can reduce your pit stops, that is an advantage. A lower-weight tire can offer the benefits of putting less strain on driveline and suspension systems. RK: There’s always a tradeoff, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. A larger diameter tire rolls over rocks, roots, and other obstacles more easily, improving traction by maintaining momentum and reducing the angle of attack over uneven terrain. The downside is increased rotating and unsprung mass, which takes more energy to accelerate, slow down, and control. A common rule of thumb is that adding 10 pounds of unsprung weight can feel comparable to adding around 100 pounds of sprung weight in terms of its effect on acceleration and handling. Larger, heavier tires can also reduce fuel economy simply because more energy is required to keep them moving. At the end of the day, just like tread pattern or tire compound, the ideal tire diameter depends on the intended use. The best choice is the one that balances traction, handling, efficiency, and durability for how the vehicle is driven. • SCORE Pro UTV FI champion Kaden Wells runs Tensor’s 35-inch diameter race tires SJ: Can you explain how rubber compounds have changed with your off-road tires, and what compromises (if any) are made to achieve traction and longevity? WJ: Modern off-road compounds have evolved significantly over the past decade. Riders today expect a tire to provide excellent traction while also delivering long tread life and high resistance to cuts and chips. • Chimera Echidna tires on Polaris RZR Traditionally, softer compounds offered superior grip but wore more quickly, while harder compounds lasted longer at the expense of traction. At Chimera, our compound development focuses on achieving the best possible balance between these competing requirements. Through advanced materials and a new generation of compound technologies, we improved both traction and durability without making major compromises in real-world performance. MH: Rubber compound development is one of the most critical parts of tire innovation. It’s also the “secret sauce.” Over time, BFGoodrich Tires has made significant advancements in creating compounds that deliver enhanced grip without sacrificing durability. Modern compounds are designed to provide improved traction on hard-packed surfaces, loose terrain, deliver extended wear in mixed-use (on/off-road) environments, resist heat buildup, and cut/chip damage under extreme conditions. That said, there’s always a balance. Softer compounds can increase grip but may wear faster, while harder compounds improve longevity but may reduce traction. Our goal is to find a happy medium, often tailoring compounds for specific applications. SK: As vehicles have become more capable, Tensor Tires strengthened wear resistance on its off-road tires. Our compounds target a balance between ultimate performance and longevity, with a preference given to performance. SJ: We see fewer tire punctures in Baja racing — what design changes have been made to improve your tires’ toughness in off-road conditions? MH: The reduction in punctures seen in modern off-road racing is the result of continuous improvements in tire construction, materials, and sidewall protection. Key advancements include: Stronger sidewall designs, such as CoreGard, that help resist splitting and bruising Improved casing construction, designed to absorb impacts from rocks and debris Enhanced tread compounds, which resist chunking and cutting Optimized tread patterns, reducing stress concentrations and improving durability over long distances Additionally, our focus on puncture resistance and endurance racing performance is driven directly by racers’ needs. Teams want to go further between tire changes and avoid failures. Ultimately, Baja racing pushes tires to their absolute limits, and every improvement made there translates into tougher, more reliable tires for both racers and everyday drivers. SK: At Tensor, we have not made drastic changes to our current tire construction for punctures. From the start, we have always used carcass and belt materials that combine high strength with the lowest possible mass. This combination continues to provide superior puncture resistance in racing and normal off-road driving conditions. • Chimera Typhoon WJ: The biggest improvements have come from advances in Chimera’s tire construction and materials. Modern off-road tires utilize stronger carcass materials, reinforced sidewall structures, and more durable rubber compounds than ever before. In our UTV products, for example, we use next-generation cut- and chip-resistant compounds along with enhanced sidewall protection layers to improve puncture resistance. Computer-aided engineering, combined with extensive real-world testing, allows us to optimize the tire structure and significantly improve durability in the harshest off-road environments.SJ