To win in NASCAR 25, raw driving talent will take you far, but proper fine-tuning of your car in the garage is also equally important. Track racing isn’t just about speed; it’s about grip, balance, and managing the tire wear over many laps. This is what makes NASCAR 25 an experience that racing enthusiasts are guaranteed to enjoy.
A fine-tuned car setup can help you bridge the gap between winning and losing, especially if you use a setup that works for your playstyle. The default settings that are set beforehand are meant to be more on the safe side rather than competitive. To master online lobbies and the career mode, you need to fine-tune your vehicle.
This guide breaks down the effects of each small adjustment and what you should know about the garage settings. And if you’re playing with a wheel, check out our guide on how to fine-tune wheel settings while you’re at it.
Preset Setups: The Simple Path To Better Handling
As a beginner, the custom garage can be a little complex and overwhelming for most people new to NASCAR. This is why each player should understand the game’s Preset Setups, specifically the Tight-to-Loose Slider. This is the simplest way to improve your car’s speed without diving into extreme details of springs and shocks.
The Tight-to-Loose Slider:
When you enter the session setup menu, there will be a slider that allows you to shift your car’s general handling bias.
- Tight (understeer): When your setup is tight, the car tends to push wide in corners — the front tires lose grip first, making it difficult to hit the apex. It’s a safer setup that keeps the rear planted but sacrifices turning speed.
- Loose (oversteer): A looser setup makes the rear more active and easier to rotate mid-corner. The trade-off is that it’s harder to control, especially on throttle exit, since the rear tires can slide out more easily.
Your main concern should be finding a sweet spot. Most of the experienced players agree that the default setup in NASCAR 25 tends to be too tight. As a starting point, move the slider about 25% towards the loose side.
This small adjustment frees up the car’s front end, helping it turn in more naturally and maintain better cornering momentum. It is especially useful on tracks with multiple mid-speed turns. It strikes a balance between stability and agility, giving you a setup that feels lively without being unpredictable.
Of course, others might prefer a tighter setup for consistency. Pushing the slider to the looser side at 25% will be great for most players, but don’t be afraid to make changes in small increments till you find your perfect sweet spot.
The Best Custom Setup
The preset slider setup will slowly become less effective with more people mastering the game and getting more competitive. So the only solution to that is to understand the complex custom garage settings and adjust them to make your car even faster and better.
There is no single “best” custom setup, as it must be customized to the track type and will be different for all of them (Superspeedway, Short track, or Intermediate). A player’s preference is also an important factor that affects the custom settings.
However, here are some general ideas that will help you tune your car for various races:
1. Weight Distribution
These are the most important settings for oval racing and should be maximized or set near the center point.
- Left Side Weight: MAX (53.0%). This forces more weight to the right side when cornering, increasing grip and speed. Do not change this on ovals.
- Nose Weight: Slightly Below Center (49.5% – 50.5%). Reduces weight on the front, freeing up the car and aiding turn-in.
- Wedge (Cross Weight): You need to fine-tune this one. Start near the default or slightly lower. Increase to make the car tighter; decrease to make it looser.
2. Springs & Shocks
The car should be able to lean into the turn to generate downforce, which means softer springs on the inside (left) and stiffer springs on the outside (right).
- Left Front: The spring rate of the LF should be softer (lower rate), the Camber should be positive (tipped out), the Tire pressure should be around 34 PSI, and the Bump/Rebound should be in higher values around 9.
- Right Front: The spring rate of the RF should be stiffer (higher rate), the Camber should be negative (tipped in), and the Tire pressure should be around 25-30 PSI.
- Left Rear: The spring rate should be the lowest/softest, the Camber should be +0.5, and the Tire pressure around 34 PSI.
- Right Rear: The spring rate should be stiff (medium-high rate), the Camber should be around -1.0, and the Tire pressure should be 25-30 PSI.
3. Sway Bars & Brake Bias
- Front Sway Bar: Keep this on the softer side. It helps the car rotate more smoothly into corners and impoves turn-in on entry
- Rear Sway Bar: You can experiment here, but generally, a slightly smaller (softer) rear bar adds stability and prevents the back end from stepping out too much
- Brake Bias: Aim for around 55-58%. This is essential on short tracks as it shifts the braking power to the rear helping the car naturally slide around corners.
- Rear Ratio: Keep this close to the default setting for balanced acceleration and control.
All of these settings are not set in stone, as each track can require slight changes, but this will help you give a better understanding of what the settings should look like and what things you should change depending on the track.
