6 replies to this topic

[desmo]

I always wondered why F1 cars used such high profile tires, as in general low-profile tires seem better suited to high performance cornering. Well, here's one possible explanation from formula-1.co.uk:

"In 1997, when Bridgestone entered Formula One, moves were afoot – if not driven, then
backed by the company - to lower profiles. Goodyear, then sole supplier to the premier
league, kicked against their introduction. Reason? The playing field would be levelled;
Bridgestone would, as a newcomer, start with equal opportunity; and Goodyear’s experience
would be negated. Bridgestone still won both titles with McLaren within two years…"

Fits with my view of F1 as a relentlessly political entity.

[Barry Lake]

Desmo
I think you are right. I raised this very question with the Bridgestone boss at the 1999 Australian GP.
It began with a friend of mine, Japanese racing driver/tyre tester/journalist/TV presenter Kazuo Shimizu telling me that after many years of testing road tyres, he was convinced that current ultra low profiles were unnecessary and prompted only by fashion. (He was talking about ROAD tyres).
I began to wonder about the ideal ratios for both road use and race use.
F1 tyres are governed to their current sizes by the regulations and the Bridgestone man didn't seem to want to theorise on what profile they might be if their was no regulation governing them.
But in racing/sports car categories, where they are not so restricted, the profiles are very low. I haven't examined that situation closely; they might be forced to go for low profiles to get big enough brakes in the wheels and still fit the wheel and tyre under the guards.
It is an interesting question. As yet I don't have a definitive answer.

[Phil Brett]

I wonder what the relative wheel / tyre weights are ? Could it also be that with the super light / strong alloys today, the wheel actually weighs less per inch diameter than the tyre wall it replaces ?

With road performance cars I'm sure you're correct in saying brake discs are the overriding factor. My Mitsubishi EVO6's discs JUST fit in the 17inch wheels ( 17inch being the biggest wheel size before the prices go through the roof ).

[PDA]

Wheel and tyre size are determined by the F1 technical regs. The last thing the FIA want is for the effectiveness of the tyres to be improved.

[Janzen]

What about the tires as part of the suspension, I dont have the right words here but there seem to be more room for adjustment with psi with these tires if you have low profile tire there is no suspension give in the tire.
I think that low profile tires on a formula would mean you would have to build completely new suspensions on the car and that is not any team looks forward to.

[Barry Lake]

Janzen
Yes, you're right. The tyre is a large part of the suspension on a modern F1 car, but the designers say they don't really like it because it is something they can't control - as they can the suspesnion springs with the dampers.
They say they would be happier to have the tyre play less of a role, but it would, as you say, require a complete redesign.

[DangerMouse]

Lowering the profile of the tyre will give more grip and less feel making F1 cars faster but easier to crash - something the FIA is trying to avoid.

Also lowering the tyre profile would mean F1 designers would have to double or treble the amount of suspension movement making it a very expensive rule change. (not to mention bad for the poor teams)