Formula One tires
Formula One tires play a significant role in the performance of a Formula One car. The tires have undergone significant changes throughout the history of Formula One, with different manufacturers and specifications used in the sport.
Formula One tires bear only a superficial resemblance to a normal road tire. Whereas the latter has a useful life of up to 80,000 km, the tires used in Formula One are built to last less than one race distance. This is determined by the compound of the rubber used. In 2005, tire changes were disallowed in Formula One, the compound was harder as the tires has to last the full race distance (around 300 km). Tire changes were re-instated in 2006, following the dramatic and highly political 2005 United States Grand Prix (see below).
By regulation, the tires feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down (a slick tire, with no indentations, is best in dry conditions). They can be no wider than 355 mm and 380 mm at the front and rear respectively and maximum diameter is 660 mm (670 mm for wet tire). Slick tires are to be reintroduced as of 2009.
For the 2007 season Bridgestone became the sole tire supplier in Formula One with the withdrawal of Michelin, and introduced four compounds of tire, two of which are made available at each race. The harder tire is more durable but gives less grip, and the softer tire gives more grip but is less durable. Both compounds have to be used by each car during a race and the softer tire has a painted white stripe in the second groove to distinguish between compounds. This was introduced after the first race of the season when confusion occurred because a small dot was put on the sidewall of the tire, instead of the white stripe. Each team must use each specification during the race, unless wet or intermediate tires are used during the race, in which case this rule no longer applies.
In extremely wet weather, such as that seen in the 2007 European Grand Prix, the F1 cars are unable to keep up with the Safety Car in deep standing water due to the risk of aquaplaning.
2005 United States Grand Prix controversy
Main article 2005 United States Grand Prix
On Friday, 17 June 2005, during the afternoon's practice session, Ralf Schumacher driving for Toyota, crashed heavily in Turn 13 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, apparently as a result of a left-rear tire failure. Turn 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is a high speed banked turn, unique to Formula One racing, that causes a greater than usual lateral (horizontal) load. This pressure can cause the side walls of the tire to bow and wear in abnormal places.
The following day, Michelin reported that the tires it had provided for its seven customer teams — BAR, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toyota, Sauber, and Williams — were unsafe for extended high-speed use on this turn, and announced its intention to fly in another set of tires from its Clermont-Ferrand headquarters. However, the replacement tires flown in, which were of the type used in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier that year, turned out to have the same problem when tested.
In a letter to FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting Michelin representatives Pierre Dupasquier and Nick Shorrock revealed that they did not know the cause of Schumacher's tire failure, and unless the cars could be slowed down in Turn 13, Michelin's tires would be unsafe and unsuitable for use during the race. Whiting replied, expressing his surprise that Michelin had not brought along a second set of tires, suggesting that the teams be informed of the maximum safe speed in Turn 13, and offered to monitor the turn by penalising any excess speed on the Michelin cars. He also addressed several solutions which had been proposed by the teams, insisting that use of the tires flown in overnight would result in penalties, and the placement of a chicane in the turn was "out of the question" — the race would not be sanctioned by the FIA (making it a non-championship race) if the track layout was changed. He deemed the Michelin teams' proposals to be "grossly unfair" to the Bridgestone teams. In a second letter Dupasquier and Shorrock announced that they would not permit their teams to race on Michelin's tires. The race then took place with only the Bridgestone teams taking part.
Make Cars Green campaign
At the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix the tires had the grooves painted green, as part of a promotion by the FIA to reduce the impact of motoring on the environment, called Make Cars Green. The softer of the two types of tire still had the innermost groove painted white, as per normal.
Manufacturers
Since the start of the 2007 Formula One season Bridgestone have been the sole manufacturer. Past manufacturers include:
Records
Ordered by number of races won. Current tire manufacturers are shown in bold.
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