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How to See Soft in Iracing

How to see soft in iRacing: quickly locate soft/option tires in the garage tire panel, pit-stop setup and dash. Fast, practical steps for drivers to identify and fix display issues.

If you’re wondering how to see soft in iRacing, the short answer is: check the Garage tire panel and the Pit Stop/Strategy screen — the compound name or color will tell you. You’re in the right place to fix it quickly; below are plain-language checks and exact steps.

Quick Answer

Open the Garage for your car and look at the Tires panel — it lists the compound by name (often “Option” or “Soft”) and shows sidewall color. On-track you can confirm the compound in the pit-stop menu or on your dash/steering-wheel display if that car supports it.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing labels tire compounds in two common ways: by name (Primary/Option or Hard/Soft) and by color (softs are usually red in many series). Not every car or series has a soft/option tire — some use a single compound. If you don’t see “soft” it may simply not be available for that car/session, or the UI element that shows compound info is hidden or filtered.

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Verify the event: Confirm the series/session allows an alternate/soft compound (race rules or session info). If session uses a single compound, “soft” won’t exist.
  2. Open Garage → Tires panel: While in the Garage (setup screen) open the Tires or Service panel; it lists the installed compound and sidewall color. Look for “Option,” “Soft,” or a red icon.
  3. Check Pit Stop/Strategy: In the Pit Stop or Strategy tab you can select compounds for stops — this shows available compounds and names. If soft is listed there, you have it.
  4. On-track dash/steering: Many cars show compound initials or colors on the dash/steering wheel display. If you don’t see it, toggle your HUD or wheel display options in the in-car options menu.
  5. If nothing shows: Swap cars or sessions to confirm UI behavior; restart iRacing and verify you have the latest car content. If the compound exists but the UI is blank, reset HUD/driver info to default in the options.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Not every car has softs — check the car description or the series rules before troubleshooting.
  • “Option” is often the same as “Soft” in road/GT series — read both names.
  • Soft tires look different on-screen: sidewalls may be a different color (commonly red).
  • If you use third‑party dash apps, they may show compound better than the in-game HUD.
  • If the pit stop menu doesn’t let you pick a compound, the session controls compound selection (e.g., fixed compound race).

FAQs

Q: Why don’t I see “soft” in my garage?
A: Probably because that car/session doesn’t include an alternate/soft compound. Check session rules or the car’s info page.

Q: My dash doesn’t show tire compound on-track — how do I enable it?
A: Open the in-car HUD or wheel display options and enable tire info or reset HUD to default. Some cars simply don’t have a dash readout.

Q: Can I change to soft tires during a race?
A: Only if the series rules and the pit-stop strategy allow selecting a different compound. Use the Pit Stop/Strategy tab to choose before the stop.

Q: Soft tires wear out quicker — how will I know I’m on them?
A: Look at the compound name in Garage/Pit-Stop, watch tire temps/wear numbers, and note shorter expected stint length.

Short Wrap-Up

To see soft in iRacing, check the Garage Tires panel and the Pit Stop/Strategy screen first — that will tell you if soft/option tires are available and which ones you have fitted. If nothing shows, confirm the car/session supports a soft compound and reset HUD/options before deeper troubleshooting.