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NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity teams have new tire combination for Auto Club

Goodyear tires

during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Seires 57th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Jonathan Ferrey

In the wake of some driver criticism last season, Goodyear will bring a new tire combination for Sprint Cup and Xfinity teams this weekend at Auto Club Speedway.

Compared with the compound used at the Fontana, Calif., track in 2014, Goodyear said the left-side tire has a slight construction and compound change to increase grip. Goodyear was criticized after last year’s race by drivers, but NASCAR stated the tire manufacturer was not to blame for the failures. More than a dozen drivers encountered tire problems, including a string of failures in the final 10 laps.

Goodyear held a tire test last Oct. 28-29 at Auto Club Speedway with Trevor Bayne, Kyle Larson, Brian Vickers and Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR requires teams use inner liners on all four tires at tracks longer than a mile.

NASCAR will give Sprint Cup teams five sets of tires for practice and qualifying and 12 for Sunday’s race. Xfinity teams are allowed eight sets for their event.

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