Goodyear will support a packed grid of 23 LMGT3 cars that will grace the circuit for the first time, alongside 16 LMP2 cars, which currently race around the world in the likes of the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series.
It means a total of 39 cars will be fitted with Goodyear tires, compared to 24 at last year’s race.
Around 7,250 tires will be produced and shipped from Goodyear’s manufacturing plant in Hanau, Germany, for Le Mans. More than 20 trucks are involved in the delivery of tires, creation of the fitting areas, and catering to take care of over 100 team members throughout the race week.
Goodyear ensures that trucks are able to carry their maximum payload to optimise efficiency, as well as choosing environmentally friendly routes for team members to travel together to races. This also includes using Goodyear’s range of fuel-efficient truck tires that help boost efficiency of the fleet.
For long-haul races, Goodyear is using sea freight to ship tires around the world which, while adding some logistical complexity, emits 47 times fewer greenhouse gases than ocean freight per ton a mile when compared to air freight1.
Goodyear’s fitting area is a vital organ of the world’s most historic race, consistently taking in old tires that may have done the equivalent of two Formula 1 Grand Prix distances, and replacing them with brand new tires ready to take on the next phase of the race. Servicing thousands of tires during the weekend requires accurate data monitoring, supply management and teamwork.
Managing the on-track action, Goodyear’s team of tire engineers analyse data in real-time to track performance compared to what’s expected. Conditions such as track temperature and weather forecasts are fed to teams’ dedicated Goodyear engineers to guide on strategy and setup.
RFID technology is used to track tire usage over a weekend. This is also communicated to track officials to ensure each competitor operates within the regulations.
Beyond the race track
As part of Goodyear’s plan to boost the sustainability of its operations, material from the tires are used for flooring and other applications. In 2023, Goodyear unveiled its fitting area complete with flooring created from hundreds of recycled tires.
“To prepare for and execute at Le Mans is the biggest challenge our team faces throughout the year,” says Mike McGregor, Goodyear Racing’s Endurance Program Manager. “Many of the processes are the same throughout the year, but the scale of Le Mans is unmatched. As the largest motorsport event for Goodyear since rejoining WEC almost five years ago, the sense of occasion is high, and I’m privileged to work with a team of people who work behind the scenes to ensure fantastic racing on track, and are conscious about our larger impact off it.”