How to Spin Tires

Free-wheeling fun with cars has been a pastime among car enthusiasts for about as long as automobiles have been around. Both illegal and legal drag and "street" racing has gotten a fair share of attention in pop culture, and one element of showing off your ride is spinning tires. Spinning tires isn't just for asphalt, as off-roaders like to spin and get their vehicles muddy. Although it's illegal to spin in residential areas, closed racetracks are fair game.

  • Check in at your local racetrack and pay any applicable fees. Drive to an open area of the track, away from any walls; you don't want to run the risk of damaging your vehicle's body in case you make a mistake with your footwork. Make sure spectators do not stand in the immediate area.

  • Get into your car or truck and turn on the ignition. Look in your mirrors to make sure no one else is close by (if they are, tell them to back up several feet). Rev the engine by pressing the acceleration pedal a few times. Press your other foot on the brake pedal and put the car into Drive for automatic transmissions or into first gear for manual (stick-shift) transmissions.

  • Press the acceleration pedal to the floor of the car while keeping your other foot firmly on the brake; this will cause the car to slightly lurch forward but will spin the tires as long as you maintain pressure on the brake. Press the stick into third gear while maintaining foot pressure on both pedals to spin tires in manual transmission vehicles.