adidas Adiracer

Adiracer

In the mid-2000s, adidas teamed up with tyre producer Goodyear to design a shoe for race car drivers. The result was a sleek silhouette known as the Adiracer. In 2024, it returned as a stylish lifestyle sneaker with a distinctive racing-inspired look.

The upper of the adidas Adiracer is made from flexible yet durable nylon, with double lines of stitching criss-crossing over its surface. A large panel envelops the heel in plush suede, and the eyestay is made from the same luxurious material for added toughness. Serrated leather 3-Stripes logos adorn each flank, with reflective panelling illuminating the wearer in low light. Lastly, the soft textile lining and padded tongue bring comfort all around the foot.

The Adiracer’s sole unit provides the same outstanding support and traction as the tyre-like original, whose slim design allowed drivers to feel the pedals beneath their feet. Foam cushioning offers a gentle platform to absorb impacts, and additional support comes from lightweight carbon inserts. The branched tread pattern of the sturdy rubber outsole is based on wet weather tyres from the early 2000s, making it extremely grippy, even on slick surfaces.

While the 2024 adidas Adiracer follows the same streamlined shape as the original, it includes several aesthetic updates. The 2006 shoe had a leather upper with curved lines of stitching rippling outwards from the midsole, whereas the modern design presents an alternative style through the use of sleek nylon and contrast stitching that forms a dynamic triangular webbing. Trefoil logos appear across the design, with one pressed into the bottom of the eyestay and others found on the woven tongue patch and heel.

The Adiracer also retains some heritage features, most notably the branded rubber semi-circles on each side of the forefoot, which evoke the chunky wheels of Formula 1 cars. Black rubber also extends up from the outsole to cover the back of the foot, and the shoe’s stabilising carbon elements are visible in both the heel and sides of the midsole.

The adidas Adiracer was relaunched in 2024 via three bold colourways in eye-catching tones of Collegiate Green, Better Scarlet and Power Blue. Various other designs followed, including a hi-top featuring a Velcro-fastened ankle strap and several colourways created with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. As well as being decorated in the racing team’s elegant black and teal hues, these low-top editions are exact replicas of the 2006 Adiracer, complete with leather uppers and characteristic stitching. In 2025, innovative South Korean streetwear brand crafted a ruggedly stylish Adiracer High coated in a rich brown camo colour scheme with contrastive metallic silver logos, further enhancing the silhouette’s fashion credentials.

With its flat, low-profile build, sleek shape and tyre-like outsole, the adidas Adiracer honours the racing heritage of its driving shoe predecessor while also providing the same high levels of support. Originally designed to withstand the rigours of long days out on the track, it has now become a stylish sneaker that offers all-day comfort and a charismatic sporty look.