Overheated tires have reduced traction, and if overheated for a significant period of time, the life of the tread will be shortened. Tread life is another important factor in the performance of a tire. Specific information on tread life seems to be difficult to find. Tire companies also make a number of different compounds to accommodate the characteristics of the race track and driver style. Softer compounds typically have better grip characteristics, but at the expense of tread life and lower operating temperature.
Harder compounds give up some grip in exchange for longer life and higher operating temperatures.
Tire stagger is another way that racing teams try to compensate for road conditions. When operating on an oval course, one tire will always be on the outside of the corner, and therefore travel more distance than the inner tire. To compensate, the team may elect to put a larger diameter tire on the outside wheel. If both tires are turning the same revolutions, as in a fixed spool axle, the outside tire will travel farther, making up the difference in the corners. The down side is that the car no longer drives a straight line with neutral steering, so the driver must steer to compensate, which may heat up the tires.