When To Change 2 Tires Vs. 4 Tires During A Pit Stop

Learn when to change 2 tires vs. 4 tires during a pit stop in NASCAR 25. Get quick rules, simple steps, and beginner setups to gain track position safely.

You’re staring at the pit options, the caution clock is ticking, and you’re stuck: 2 tires or 4 tires? Pick wrong and you either lose a ton of track position, or your car turns into a handful on old rubber. This guide shows you exactly when to change 2 tires vs. 4 tires during a pit stop in NASCAR 25 so you stop guessing and start gaining spots.

Quick answer

Use 4 tires almost all the time, especially as a beginner. Four tires are safer, more consistent, and better for long green-flag runs.
Use 2 tires only when:

• You’re near the end of a run or the race (≈10 laps or less to go), and
• You need track position (to stay on the lead lap, beat the leader off pit road, or restart near the front), and
• Your right-side tire wear isn’t already destroyed.

If you’re not sure what to pick: choose 4 tires.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• In your next race, plan this rule: “I will take 4 tires on every stop unless there are 10 laps or fewer remaining.”
• When a caution comes out late, open the pit strategy screen and compare tire wear: if right sides are yellow/orange but not red, consider right-side-only (2 tires) for track position.
• After the race, check the lap times before and after your stop: notice how 4 tires give you more stable, predictable laps.

What this means in NASCAR 25

In NASCAR-style racing, tires are everything. Every lap you run, the tread wears down and the car loses grip. That’s why fresh tires feel fast and glued to the track, and old tires feel slippery and hard to control.

• 4-tire stop: All four tires are changed.

  • Pros: Maximum grip, best long-run speed, predictable handling.
  • Cons: Longer pit stop, you may lose several positions.

• 2-tire stop (usually right sides only): Only the right-front and right-rear tires are changed.

  • Pros: Faster stop, better track position off pit road.
  • Cons: Unbalanced grip, car can feel unstable, especially on longer runs.

Why it matters in NASCAR 25:

• Speed: Fresh tires = faster lap times, especially over multiple laps.
• Consistency: Four fresh tires help you hit the same line every lap instead of fighting the car.
• Safety (in-game and mentally): Less spinning, fewer wall hits, and easier control.
• Progression & enjoyment: Staying on the lead lap, managing late-race restarts, and actually racing people instead of just surviving.

Key jargon you’ll see:

• Tire falloff: How much lap times slow down as tires wear. A “high falloff” track punishes old tires hard.
• Tight / Push: Car doesn’t want to turn; it wants to go straight toward the wall.
• Loose: Rear of the car wants to swing out; car feels like it wants to spin.
• Caution: Yellow flag; field slows, bunches up, and pit stops are safer time-wise.
• Track position: Where you line up on the restart; staying up front often beats being slightly faster but stuck in traffic.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

Use this as a quick diagnosis guide during or after a race.

When To Change 2 Tires Vs. 4 Tires During A Pit Stop (Core rules)

Here are simple rules you can memorize and trust as a beginner:

Default rule (most of the race)

• Take 4 tires on:
  • Green-flag pit stops
  • Early-race cautions
  • Mid-race cautions (more than ~15 laps to go in the run)
• Reason: You’re learning lines, braking points, and traffic. You need maximum stability, not gimmicks.

When 2 tires make sense

Consider 2 right-side tires only when:

1. Race or stage is almost over

   • Roughly 10 laps or fewer to the next checkered or stage end.
   • Shorter tracks (Bristol, Martinsville-type): be even more careful; they punish worn tires more.

2. You need track position badly

   • You’re stuck 15th–25th and can’t pass on equal tires.
   • You must beat the leader off pit road to get your lap back or control the restart.

3. Your right-side tires have wear but aren’t killed

   • In the tire wear display, you see yellow/orange but not flashing red on right-front and right-rear.
   • Left sides are usually in better shape; leaving them on is “good enough” for a short sprint.

4. You’re comfortable controlling a slightly weird-feeling car

   • Expect the car to feel different: often tighter on entry and looser off exit.
   • If you’re still fighting to stay off the wall, stay with 4 tires.

When 2 tires are a bad idea

Avoid 2 tires if:

• There are more than 10–15 laps remaining in the race or stage.
• Your car was already very tight or very loose before pitting.
• Track has high tire falloff (lap times drop quickly as tires wear).
• You’re leading comfortably on pace; no need to risk stability.

Step-by-step: How to do it

These steps use safe wording since exact labels may differ slightly in NASCAR 25. Look for similar terms in your menus.

1. Opening pit options

1. During a race, when a caution comes out or you plan a green-flag stop, watch for a pit strategy / pit options prompt.
2. Press the indicated button (often shown as something like “Pit Options,” “Pit Strategy,” or a controller icon).
3. A menu should appear showing fuel, tires, and adjustments.

If you don’t see it:

• Check the pause menu during practice or a race for something like “Race Strategy” or “Pit Strategy” and learn where it is before your next event.

2. Choosing 4 tires

1. In the pit menu, look for a preset or option that indicates all tires will be changed. Wording might be “4 tires,” “Change all,” or individual checkmarks on all four corners.
2. Make sure all four tires are selected to be changed.
3. Confirm the stop.

You should feel/see:

• On track, the car should feel much more planted and less likely to slide.
• Lap times should drop by multiple tenths, especially for the first 5–10 laps.

Common gotcha:

• Don’t accidentally uncheck a tire while adjusting pressures or wedge. Always do a quick visual scan to ensure all four corners are selected.

3. Choosing 2 tires (right sides only)

1. Open the same pit strategy menu under caution or before a green-flag stop.
2. Look at the tire wear display if available (colored bars, percentages, or similar).
3. Deselect the left-front and left-rear tires so only right-front and right-rear remain selected to change.
   • If the game offers a “2 tires” preset, confirm it’s right-side only, not a random combo.
4. Leave fuel as needed and confirm the stop.

You should feel/see:

• Slightly quicker pit stop and possibly 2–5 positions gained vs. 4-tire stops.
• Car feels sharper turn-in but may be unstable, especially off the corner under throttle.

Common gotcha:

• Taking only left-side tires usually isn’t helpful on most ovals unless you know exactly what you’re doing; for beginners, stick to right-side-only when using 2 tires.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

Tire decisions are easier when the car is stable. Here’s how assists can help you focus on learning when to choose 2 vs 4.

Beginner

• Traction control / stability assists: ON or HIGH (if available).
• ABS braking assist: ON (helps avoid flat-spot-style lockups).
• Damage: Reduced or visual only (so one mistake doesn’t ruin the race).
• Tire wear & fuel: ON but at default or slightly reduced.
  • This lets you feel the difference between fresh and worn tires without being punished too hard.

Intermediate

• Traction and stability: MEDIUM or PARTIAL.
• Damage: Normal.
• Tire wear & fuel: Normal.
  • You’ll start seeing the real importance of timing your 2-tire gambles vs 4-tire safety.

Advanced

• Assists: Minimal or OFF.
• Damage & wear: Full / realistic if offered.
  • At this level, 2-tire calls are strategic weapons you use based on run length, weather (if modeled), and opponent behavior.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

Goal: Learn what 2-tire vs 4-tire changes feel like.

1. Pick a 1.0–1.5 mile oval (intermediate-style track) in single-race or practice mode.
2. Run 10–15 laps on one set of tires. Don’t push too hard; just be smooth and consistent.
3. Pit for 4 tires, then run 5 laps at your best pace. Notice how planted the car feels.
4. Back out, restart the session, run the same 10–15 laps, then pit for 2 right-side tires only.
5. Run 5 more laps and compare:
   • How the car turns into the corner.
   • How stable it is coming off the corner on throttle.
   • Your lap times vs. the 4-tire run.

Success looks like:

• You can clearly describe to yourself: “With 2 tires it feels more [tight/loose] and less stable after a few laps.”
• You know which feeling you prefer in different situations (sprint vs long run).

Mistake to avoid:

• Don’t try this drill while also changing a bunch of setup options. Keep the setup the same so you can feel only the tire change difference.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

1. Taking 2 tires way too early in the race

   • Looks like: You pit on the first or second caution and take 2 tires “for speed,” then get passed on long runs.
   • Why: You’re chasing a shortcut instead of learning lines and conserving tires.
   • Fix: Use 4 tires only until the final 10–15 laps or final stage.

2. Staying out on ancient tires to keep the lead

   • Looks like: You don’t pit under caution, restart P1, and immediately get freight-trained by the field.
   • Why: You overvalue track position vs. tire advantage.
   • Fix: If most of the field pits and you’re on similar wear, pit with them. Take 4 tires unless it’s 5–10 laps to go, where 2 might work.

3. 2-tire stop when the car is already undriveable

   • Looks like: Car is super tight or loose before pitting, and 2 tires make it worse.
   • Why: You’re trying to “fix” a handling problem with a riskier tire call.
   • Fix: If handling is bad, reset with 4 tires first. Then tweak setup (wedge, pressures, etc.) if options are available.

4. Not checking tire wear before deciding

   • Looks like: You choose 2 tires out of habit, but your right fronts are nearly dead.
   • Why: Rushing the menu, ignoring the wear display.
   • Fix: Always glance at your tire wear indicators before making a 2-tire call. If right-front is almost gone, 4 tires.

5. Forgetting to switch back from a 2-tire preset

   • Looks like: Next stop you accidentally take 2 tires again mid-race and wonder why the car is weird.
   • Why: Pit strategy preset stayed on 2-tire mode.
   • Fix: After any 2-tire stop, reset your strategy to 4 tires in the menu once the run settles.

6. Panicking on late cautions

   • Looks like: With 5 laps to go, you can’t decide, spam the menu, and take the wrong option.
   • Why: No simple rule in your head.
   • Fix: Pre-commit: “Under 10 to go, if I’m 10th or worse, I’ll try 2 right sides; if I’m top 5, I’ll take 4 and defend.”

FAQs

When to change 2 tires vs 4 tires during a pit stop in NASCAR 25?

Use 4 tires by default for stability and pace over any run longer than about 5–10 laps. Consider 2 right-side tires only when there are around 10 laps or fewer remaining, you need big track position, and your right-side tire wear isn’t already critical. If in doubt, 4 tires is the safer and usually faster choice.

Is a 2-tire stop faster than a 4-tire stop in NASCAR 25?

Yes, a 2-tire stop is shorter in time, so you’ll often gain several positions on pit road. But the tradeoff is worse handling and more falloff over a run. You’re swapping pit road time for on-track stability, which only pays off when the run to the finish is short.

Should I ever take no tires and only fuel?

Only in very specific situations and usually not as a beginner. Taking no tires might work if you pitted very recently, the caution came out right after, and there are only a couple laps left. For most new players, if you’re stopping anyway, at least take 2 right-side tires, and in most cases 4.

Do 2-tire stops work on all tracks?

They work better on some tracks than others. Tracks with lower tire wear and shorter runs (like late-race restarts) are more forgiving for 2-tire calls. On tracks with high tire falloff or long green runs, 2-tire stops usually hurt you more than they help.

How do I know if my tires are too worn to risk 2 tires?

Watch your tire wear display: if right-front and right-rear are close to critical (dark red, near 0%, or whatever warning the game uses), they’re already in trouble. If you’re sliding a lot or the car feels unpredictable, that’s another sign. In those cases, 4 tires are the right call.

Is it realistic to win races just by using 2-tire strategies?

Sometimes, but not often. Even in real NASCAR, 2-tire calls are situational gambles, not a base strategy. In NASCAR 25, they can help you steal track position late, but you still need clean driving, good restarts, and some luck. Most of your wins as a beginner will come from 4-tire consistency, not trick plays.

Next steps

For now, treat 4 tires as your default weapon and 2 tires as a late-race gamble when you need track position. As you get more comfortable, you’ll start to feel when a quick 2-tire stop can steal a restart or save a bad situation.

Next, try a few races where you plan your tire decisions before the green flag so you’re not guessing under caution. As you improve, review replays or results to see which strategy actually gained you spots at the end.

Related articles (suggested):

• “Beginner Tire Wear Management Tips in NASCAR 25”
• “How to Pit Without Losing Control: Entry, Exit, and Speed Limits”
• “Basic Car Handling Guide: Tight vs Loose in NASCAR 25”
• “How Cautions and Restarts Work in NASCAR 25”
• “Intro to Race Strategy: Fuel, Stages, and Track Position”