2005 Formula One tire war..

[SmithSR]

If you remember last year, you'll be amazed at this year's opening round F1 grand prix in Australia..

So many great articles, here are some excerpts:

Official Formula1 site:http://www.formula1.com/insigh....html

http://emagazine.credit-suisse...ng=en

"The advances in the tires are greater than those that we can achieve after a whole winter's work in the wind tunnel. You have to institute incredible developments to cut a second off a car's time,"

New tires standing racing strategies on their heads:Vulcanizers are facing a new challenge for the 2005 season. Instead of the usual 150 kilometers, their tires will now have to last more than twice as long, because in the future tire changes during a Grand Prix will be permitted only in emergencies. The shift from sprint tires to endurance tires could see the current balance of power turned upside down, and will change strategies in any case.

Rivals Michelin and Bridgestone will be carting new tire developments out to the racetrack in racing rhythm, i.e. every two weeks, and the manufacturers are talking loftily about "new generations." The tire makers essentially have just two options for improvement: the construction of the tire, and the compound used. The possible combinations are infinite. So, at every track each driver gets new types of tires and has to test them in order to find the most suitable combination. That's why over the course of a year roughly 100,000 Formula One tires are produced. Each takes two to three hours to make, and the large amount of manual work required drives the price as high as EUR 1,000 apiece. Most wind up in the shredder - having been rejected for being too slow. This evolution leads to costs in the hundreds of millions.

Formula One tires by the numbers:Compound: 79 percent rubber, 18 percent steel, and 3 percent textile (greatly simplified) Load: 3,000 revolutions/minute Tread: four grooves distributed evenly across the surface. Groovings must be at least 14 mm wide and 2.5 mm deep Optimal operating temperature: 90 to 100 degrees Celsius Optimal tire pressure: 1.0 to 1.2 bars of dehumidified air or nitrogen Maximum width: 355 millimeters front, 380 mm back Diameter: 660 mm Rim diameter: maximum 330 mm (13 inches)

When the tire war started, 1997:http://perso.wanadoo.fr/brad.spurgeon/tirewar.HTM

http://www.michelinsport.com/s...ng=EN

http://www.news24.com/News24/S....html

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?new ... ridgestone Motorsport is sending five dry weather specifications of Potenza Formula One tyre to Melbourne by air freight direct from its Tokyo based production factory. Each one of these dry weather specifications, which have been tailored specifically for the new regulations, is new and has therefore never been raced before. Bridgestone will also be sending one wet weather tyre and one extreme weather tyre specification to Australia, both of which are new specifications.

Hisao Suganuma - Technical Manager - Bridgestone Motorsport commented, "Rubens started 11th and Michael 19th on the grid and Rubens managed to finish the race in second position which is a fantastic result. It really proves that the development direction we have taken is the correct one. The tyre performed well for both Ferrari cars and kept its performance from beginning to end. We've had no problems with the tyres which is very encouraging for future races. It's good to see the two rookie Jordan drivers finish the race. It's good experience for the team and I'm sure that they will assist our tyre development this season. Patrick Friesacher also finished his debut race which is encouraging. Overall, while we always like to win, the result was a good one. With the new tyre regulations the requirements of the tyres are different and today we saw that our tyres suited the new regulations and we now just have to push our development to continue to be competitive."

[Exar-Kun]

And things really are getting interesting.

"Drivers will have access to far fewer tyres in 2005 and will have to make a single set last through both qualifying sessions and the entire race. A tyre can only be changed during this time if it is punctured or damaged."

That huge. No "last minute" compund changes because the track got colder since qualifying, or mid-race changes because it got wet, etc...

wow....

Bridgestone has had it's technological lead dimished to nil in the last 3 uears by Michelin...lets see how they both react

I think Smith and I will be taking aprticular interest in what happens, I don't know about the rest of you.

-ChetNICE POST SMITH!

[ralphdig]

In the event of rain they are allowed to change for wets.

[Ceptos]

i think they can also change a singular tire no questions asked.

the fia has also done a number to WRC tire rules over the last year.