Formula One tyres

Formula One tyres play a significant role in the performance of a Formula One car. The tyres have undergone significant changes throughout the history of Formula One, with different manufacturers and specifications used in the sport.

History

Formula One tyres bear only a superficial resemblance to a normal road tyre. Whereas the latter has a useful life of up to 80,000 km, the tyres used in Formula One are built to last less than one race distance. The purpose of the tyre determines the compound of the rubber to be used. In 2005, tyre changes were disallowed in Formula One, therefore the compounds were harder as the tyres had to last the full race distance (around 300 km). Tyre changes were re-instated in 2006, following the dramatic and highly political 2005 United States Grand Prix.

Reintroduced for the 2009 season, a set of slick F1 tyres.

In 1998 grooved tyres were introduced with three grooves in the front tyres and four grooves in the rear tyres.^[1] Between 1999 and 2008, regulations required the tyres to feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down (a slick tyre, 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 the maximum diameter is 660 mm (670 mm for wet tyre).^[2] Slick tyres were reintroduced at the beginning of 2009, along with aerodynamic changes intended to shift the balance towards mechanical grip in an attempt to increase overtaking.

For 2007, Bridgestone became the sole tyre supplier in Formula One with the withdrawal of Michelin, and introduced four compounds of tyre, two of which are made available at each race. The harder tyre is more durable but gives less grip, and the softer tyre gives more grip but is less durable. Both compounds have to be used by each car during a race and the softer tyre had 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 tyre, instead of the white stripe. Upon the reintroduction of slicks in 2009, the sidewalls of the softer tyres were painted green to indicate the difference in compound, as there were no longer any grooves in tyres. Each team must use each specification during the race, unless wet or intermediate tyres 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. In very wet races such as the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, the tyres are unable to provide a safe race due to the amount of water, and so the race can be red flagged. The race is either then stopped permanently, or suspended for any period of time until the cars can race safely again.

On 2 November 2009, Bridgestone announced their withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the 2010 season.^[3][4] Michelin, Cooper Avon and Pirelli showed interest in taking over the role of tyre supplier. In June 2010, it was announced that Pirelli would be the sole tyre supplier for 2011 and would receive a three-year contract.^[5] During August 2010, Pirelli commenced its test programme with the Toyota TF109 at the Mugello Circuit with Nick Heidfeld as the test driver.^[6]

With the sole tyre supplier having been changed from Bridgestone to Pirelli, the rules were the same as the 2010 season rules concerning the tyres. All teams still were required to use each type of dry tyre compound supplied in the race, and drivers that made it through to Q3 still had to use the same tyres they used to set their fastest qualifying time with to start the race. However, the way of denoting different tyre specifications was changed. Rather than a green stripe denoting a softer compound, for each tyre specification, the lettering on the tyre would have a specific color. The hard compound would have silver lettering, the medium compound would have white lettering, the soft tyres would have yellow lettering and the super-soft tyres would have red lettering. For the wet tyres, the intermediate tyres would have light blue lettering and the full wet tyres would have orange lettering.^[7]

At the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Pirelli introduced a coloured band around the outside of the tyre on the softer of the two dry compounds. This was due to confusion during the first round of the season. This measure was said to be a stop gap, with a permanent solution due to be implemented at the first European race of the season. The coloured line featured at the Chinese Grand Prix too.^[8] From the Turkish Grand Prix, the permanent solution was implemented; the option compound had a new marking.^[9] The option tyre had two thick coloured lines between the Pirelli and P Zero logos of each tyre, which made it easier to see the colour of the marking when the tyre rotates. The prime tyre remained the same markings as previously, though later in the season had the sidewall updated with the new markings.

According to regulations, both compounds, prime (harder) and option (softer) compounds must be used in a dry race, failing which a driver will be disqualified. If a race is suspended without both tyres being used, a 30-second penalty will be imposed. This requirement is waived should drivers need to use wet weather tyres.^[10]

2005 United States Grand Prix controversy

On Friday, 17 June 2005, during the afternoon's practice session, Ralf Schumacher, who was driving for Toyota, crashed heavily in Turn 13 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, apparently as a result of a left-rear tyre failure. Turn 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is a high-speed banked turn (it is turn one of the oval run in the opposite direction), unique to Formula One racing, that causes a greater than usual lateral (horizontal) load.^[11] This pressure can cause the side walls of the tyre to bow and wear in abnormal places.^[12]

The 2005 United States Grand Prix was plagued by tyre issues. This caused the race to be run with only six competitors

The following day, Michelin reported that the tyres 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 tyres from its Clermont-Ferrand headquarters.^[13] However, the replacement tyres 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.^[14]

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 tyre failure, and unless the cars could be slowed down in Turn 13, Michelin's tyres would be unsafe and unsuitable for use during the race.^[15] Whiting replied, expressing his surprise that Michelin had not brought along a second set of tyres, 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 tyres 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.^[15] In a second letter Dupasquier and Shorrock announced that they would not permit their teams to race on Michelin's tyres. The race then took place with only the three Bridgestone teams (Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi) taking part. The race was won by Michael Schumacher.

Make Cars Green campaign

Bridgestone used tyres with green grooves for the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello (top) demonstrates the "prime" compound, whilst Nick Heidfeld (bottom) is running on the "option" compound, distinguished by the fact that one of the grooves is white.

At the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix the tyres 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 tyre still had the second innermost groove painted white, as per normal.^[16]

Upon the return of slicks at the beginning of the 2009 season the white stripe to indicate differences between the tyres was no longer possible due to the lack of grooves on the tyres. Subsequently, in a continuation of the Make Cars Green tyres in Japan, Bridgestone painted the sidewalls of the option tyre green instead.

Tyre summary

These are the seven F1 tyre compounds supplied by Pirelli for the 2016 season.^[17][18]

Compound name	Colour		Tread	Driving conditions	Dry type*	Grip	Durability
Ultra soft	Purple		Slick	Dry	Option	5 – Most grip	1 – Least durable
Super soft	Red		Slick	Dry	Option	4	2
Soft	Yellow		Slick	Dry	Prime/Option	3	3
Medium	White		Slick	Dry	Prime/Option	2	4
Hard	Orange		Slick	Dry	Prime	1 – Least grip	5 – Most durable
Intermediate	Green		Treaded	Wet (no standing water)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wet	Blue		Treaded	Wet (standing water)	N/A	N/A	N/A

* Pirelli designates three dry types of tyres to be used for each Grand Prix based on the circuit. The softer of the two is referred to as "option", and the harder "prime".^[19]

Manufacturers

From 2011 onwards, the Italian manufacturer Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier.

Past manufacturers include:

• Avon
• Bridgestone
• Continental
• Dunlop
• Englebert
• Firestone
• Goodyear
• Michelin

Tyre manufacturers by season

Season	Manufacturer 1	Wins	Manufacturer 2	Wins	Manufacturer 3	Wins	Manufacturer 4	Wins	Manufacturer 5	Wins	Manufacturer 6	Wins
1950	Pirelli	6	Firestone	1	Dunlop	0	Englebert	0
1951	Pirelli	7	Firestone	1	Dunlop	0	Englebert	0
1952	Pirelli	7	Firestone	1	Dunlop	0	Englebert	0
1953	Pirelli	8	Firestone	1	Dunlop	0	Englebert	0
1954	Pirelli	4	Continental	4	Firestone	1	Englebert	0	Dunlop	0	Avon	0
1955	Continental	5	Englebert	1	Firestone	1	Pirelli	0	Dunlop	0
1956	Englebert	5	Pirelli	2	Firestone	1	Dunlop	0	Avon	0
1957	Pirelli	7	Firestone	1	Englebert	0	Dunlop	0	Avon	0
1958	Dunlop	7	Englebert	2	Continental	1	Firestone	1	Pirelli	0	Avon	0
1959	Dunlop	8	Firestone	1	Avon	0
1960	Dunlop	9	Firestone	1
1961	Dunlop	8
1962	Dunlop	9
1963	Dunlop	10
1964	Dunlop	10	Goodyear	0
1965	Dunlop	9	Goodyear	1
1966	Goodyear	4	Dunlop	3	Firestone	2
1967	Firestone	6	Goodyear	5	Dunlop	0
1968	Firestone	6	Goodyear	3	Dunlop	3
1969	Dunlop	6	Goodyear	3	Firestone	2
1970	Firestone	10	Dunlop	2	Goodyear	1
1971	Goodyear	7	Firestone	4
1972	Firestone	7	Goodyear	5
1973	Goodyear	15	Firestone	0
1974	Goodyear	15	Firestone	0
1975	Goodyear	14	Firestone	0
1976	Goodyear	16	Dunlop	0	Bridgestone	0
1977	Goodyear	17	Dunlop	0	Bridgestone	0	Michelin	0
1978	Goodyear	11	Michelin	5
1979	Goodyear	8	Michelin	7
1980	Goodyear	11	Michelin	3
1981	Michelin	13	Goodyear	2	Avon	0	Pirelli	0
1982	Goodyear	8	Michelin	8	Pirelli	0	Avon	0
1983	Michelin	9	Goodyear	6	Pirelli	0
1984	Michelin	14	Goodyear	2	Pirelli	0
1985	Goodyear	15	Pirelli	1
1986	Goodyear	15	Pirelli	1
1987	Goodyear	16
1988	Goodyear	16
1989	Goodyear	16	Pirelli	0
1990	Goodyear	16	Pirelli	0
1991	Goodyear	15	Pirelli	1
1992	Goodyear	16
1993	Goodyear	16
1994	Goodyear	16
1995	Goodyear	17
1996	Goodyear	16
1997	Goodyear	17	Bridgestone	0
1998	Bridgestone	9	Goodyear	7
1999	Bridgestone	16
2000	Bridgestone	17
2001	Bridgestone	13	Michelin	4
2002	Bridgestone	15	Michelin	2
2003	Bridgestone	9	Michelin	7
2004	Bridgestone	15	Michelin	3
2005	Michelin	18	Bridgestone	1
2006	Michelin	9	Bridgestone	9
2007	Bridgestone	17
2008	Bridgestone	18
2009	Bridgestone	17
2010	Bridgestone	19
2011	Pirelli	19
2012	Pirelli	20
2013	Pirelli	19
2014	Pirelli	19
2015	Pirelli	19

Records

Ordered by number of races won. The manufacturer which competed in the 2015 season is shown in bold. These results are correct as of the end of the 2015 season.

Pos	Manufacturer	Seasons [20]	Starts	Wins	Sole supplier	First win	Last win	World Championships
								Drivers	Constr.
1	Goodyear	1959 – 1998	494	368	113[21]	1965 Mexican Grand Prix	1998 Italian Grand Prix	24	26
2	Bridgestone	1976 – 1977 1997 – 2010[22]	244	175	116[23]	1998 Australian Grand Prix	2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	11	11
3	Pirelli	1950 – 1958 1981 – 1986 1989 – 1991 2011 – Present	295	140	96[24]	1950 British Grand Prix	2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	11	5
4	Michelin	1977 – 1984 2001 – 2006	215	102	0	1978 Brazilian Grand Prix	2006 Japanese Grand Prix	6	4
5	Dunlop	1950 – 1970 1976 – 1977	175	83	0	1958 Monaco Grand Prix	1970 Belgian Grand Prix	8	9
6	Firestone	1950 – 1975	121	49	11[25]	1950 Indianapolis 500	1972 Italian Grand Prix	4	3
7	Continental	1954 – 1958	13	10	0	1954 French Grand Prix	1958 Argentine Grand Prix	2	0
8	Englebert	1950 – 1958	61	8	0	1955 Monaco Grand Prix	1958 British Grand Prix	2	0
9	Avon	1954 – 1958 1981 – 1982	29	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0

References

External links

• Pirelli F1 Tyres
• FIA tyre regulation summary
• FIA tyre regulations
• Formula One Tyre Technology | Bridgestone Motorsport Official Site
• The Aerodynamic Development of the Formula One Car
• Bridgestone Teams, Single Tyre Formula And Sole Supplier
• The ATLAS Rough Guide: How to Set Up a Formula One Car (Part One)