The new Pirelli tyres are sh*t, apparently.

[mattikake]

Bit of inside info, but with the data and "tests" (whatever the tests maybe. Maybe in pre-2010 cars) the performance is well behind the current Bridgestone tyre, "prime" for "prime".

It's not a problem of graining or overheating/blistering, but the lack of side-wall flex and an all-round lack of grip.

IMO this is could be good news, as it might mix things up a bit and hopefully add some strategy beyond always putting the soft tyres on as it is today. The downside/flipside is that mechanical grip will suffer and will perhaps move the onus even more toward aero-grip.

Thoughts?

[anonymous-user]

They are testing. It's far too early to say anything about the tyres for next year.

[Scuffers]

that does rather fly in the face of the public statements about how the testing is going though....

[Mazda Baiter]

Maybe a mod should edit the title.

Crap tyres would be better for the sport, but not neccesarily Pirrelli's business.

[gingerpaul]

I hope they're ste. It would make for a great season if the tyres were really unpredictable.

[Eric Mc]

Crap tyres equals great racing.

[PhillipM]

Same thing happened in MotoGP, switched to pirrelli and the bikes were 2s a lap slower.
Interestingly, I'd say if anything it made the racing worse as it was much harder for thenm to stick a pass down the inside and still be able to get the bike turned at the last minute.

[ewenm]

Tested on a 2009 Toyota I think.

[Rude-boy]

ewenm said:

Tested on a 2009 Toyota I think.

Close, the still born 2010 Toyota - so possibly not the most resolved design on the grid. That said I can't remember if they were one of the teams that always had cars which were inconsistant in how they worked their tryes, ala Brawn 2009.

[plg]

Scuffers said:

that does rather fly in the face of the public statements about how the testing is going though....

It would imply that the testing is going well - real world performance never equals simulation (ask Virgin) - if we have the same intel in Feb, then we can worry - but it's the first batch of testing...

[FourWheelDrift]

It doesn't matter what they are like, they can be made of wood or squirrels as long as they are the only supplier and not in a tyre competition with another manufacturer.

[Mazda Baiter]

FourWheelDrift said:

It doesn't matter what they are like, they can be made of wood or squirrels as long as they are the only supplier and not in a tyre competition with another manufacturer.

As long as they can be consistent throughout the batch.

[SamHH]

Eric Mc said:

Crap tyres equals great racing.

That seems to be a popular idea at the moment, but it didn't seem to bear true when grooves were added to reduce the grip, nor when they were removed again.

[ewenm]

SamHH said:

Eric Mc said:

Crap tyres equals great racing.

That seems to be a popular idea at the moment, but it didn't seem to bear true when grooves were added to reduce the grip, nor when they were removed again.

I'd much rather loads of mechanical grip and minimal aero to allow cars to run close together, brake late and go for overtakes.

[Graham]

at least they are consitant with the road tyres then..


Pirelli, coming to a ditch near you soon.

[Eric Mc]

SamHH said:

Eric Mc said:

Crap tyres equals great racing.

That seems to be a popular idea at the moment, but it didn't seem to bear true when grooves were added to reduce the grip, nor when they were removed again.

Because the tyres were still too good.

[Aydogflipper]

Im sure they will improve throughout the winter.

However i do wish there was more than one tyre manufacturer like with bridgestone vs michelin. made for good battles from time to time

[davepoth]

the grooved tyres were very predictable though. What would be nice is what we had this year with certain races, where the tyres went off hilariously quickly for some drivers. That rewards the smoother driver (i.e. Button)

[LocoBlade]

MotoGP run control Bridgestones though, and even before that came into effect a couple of years ago, I don't recall anyone running Pirelli's?

If you're thinking World Superbikes, Pirelli came in as a control tyre manufacturer following years of a "tyre war" where manufacturers competed against each other so obviously development was rife with tyres as sticky as possible. With a control tyre there's no competition so no reason to run tyres that are as sticky, hence the lap time increase.

PhillipM said:

Same thing happened in MotoGP, switched to pirrelli and the bikes were 2s a lap slower.
Interestingly, I'd say if anything it made the racing worse as it was much harder for thenm to stick a pass down the inside and still be able to get the bike turned at the last minute.

[PhillipM]

Yeah, sorry, getting mixed up.

There was a reason to run stickier tyres, the racing was better!