Bridgestone = tyred out?

[neilap]

Originally posted by Glen
If the performance gaps come from the tyres how come Williams have been able to improve so much and overhaul McLaren? Tyres are only one factor, and even then the teams play a major role in developing the tyres. Don't forget, every team gets their own tyres - tailored to suit their requirements. The tyre partner in a team is no different to the engine partner - the engine partner works with, or even within, the team to produce the best package - the best synergy - and so does the tyre partner.

I don't agree. Ferrari has Bridgestone people working at Ferrari designing tires around their car. No other team has that. Williams was able to "overhaul Mac" because they started with a poor car and have improved it throughout the season. I don't think they are better than the 2year old Mac either. Kimmi was on pole and pulling away. Reliability and mistakes are hurting Mac more than anything. A tire partner is not just like an engine partner. Honda helped design the chassis while building the motor. BAR's major role was aerodynamics. Michelin is spreading the wealth between its teams. They get more input and therefore are able to grow faster. I posted an article here where JV stated he was finally testing tires that he found, to his dismay, Ferrari had already raced. ALL the bridgestone runners are running the Ferrari tires that are best suited for them. In other words the tires are built for Ferrari and the other teams choose what works best for them. When Honda builds a motor its for BAR. The synergy is there. Its automatic, well if it comes out right. Tires on the other hand are a completely separate entity, unless you are Ferrari. The sad thing is that even with that advantage Bridgestone is not pulling their weight. Read some of the statements made by the Bridgestone runners after this race. All say they had trouble with grip. Spec tires will eliminate all this garbage. Then, if the cars don't handle they can blame the design, not some factor that they have little if any control over.

[Glen]

What you say is only true for Bridgestone - the Michelin teams have a much healthier relationship with their tyre partner. You even have Michelin offering to work alongside their teams to implement their OPT technology, which has exactly the same kind of knock-on consequences for the whole philosophy of the chassis as something like a new configuration of engine.

Adrian Newey has stated that the new McLaren is the first to be designed around the Michelin tyres - they tyres are an integral part of the car, not something which is bolted on at the end. The characteristics of the tyre are an essential part of the starting design of a good car.

However, as I said before, what you are saying is at least partially true for the Bridgestone teams, and I guess for the less well funded Michelin teams.

[esorniloc]

One thing that seems to have been overlooked is the fact that this year Brigdestone have 5 wins to Michelin 4 wins.

Isn't the number of wins the thing that people look back on as to what was the best tyre that year?

[ASCII Man]

6 to 4, Fisi is on Bridgestones too.

[neilap]

Fisi's win was a fluke, anyone could have won that. Ferrari is the only team that Benefits from Bridgestones latest creations. Aslo Its not the tires that were so great, its the car. Either way, to me, thats besides the point.