Innovation

Mickey Thompson

Racing Legend & Innovator

Mickey Thompson’s Tyre Innovations

The switch to offroad

Then, in 1969, Mickey made the switch to off-road racing. Together, Mickey and Gene built leading technology bias-belted off-road racing tyres that, in 1982 at the age of 53, helped Mickey set a new record time to win the one big race that had always eluded him, the most grueling off-road race of them all, the Baja 1000.

Hall of Fame

In 1990, Mickey was inducted in to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame for his contribution to motorsport as a racer and innovator.

Today’s 4WD tyres

Mickey’s contribution as an innovator of revolutionary tyres went beyond motorsport. The 4WD tyres available today feature many of the innovations that Mickey and Gene McMannis designed in their racing tyres. Tyres with tread running down the sidewall known as sidebiters for climbing out of ruts and to reduce off-road damage; a directional tread pattern at 23 degrees (the ultimate angle for cutting and self-cleaning as used on plough blades and tractor tyres); and specialty light truck radial tyre sizing up to 40 inches are all Mickey Thompson innovations.