[Tech Issue] 2011 Pirelli tyres

[wnut]

That is really interesting, wonder how much of this mixed compound stuff went on during the tyre war!

Can't say I care for the look, though it was certainly unique at the time and focussed attention on the tyres!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

That is really interesting, wonder how much of this mixed compound stuff went on during the tyre war!

Can't say I care for the look, though it was certainly unique at the time and focussed attention on the tyres!

It is interesting and I wonder if it had any influence on Champcar, when they introduced the option tyre with the red band on the tyre wall?

[Chatters]

Truly fascinating, that Bennetton. However judging by that '86 Detroit photo I'd say it's something that the team have painted onto the tyres, to turn eyes, something which by the looks of it, it would have done very successfully!

[crmalcolm]

Not sure, but I'm guessing the tyre colours are connected in some way to the 'United Colours of Bennetton' tagline.

[runfatboyrun1984]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Not sure, but I'm guessing the tyre colours are connected in some way to the 'United Colours of Bennetton' tagline.

That's exactly what it was for, 1986 United Colours campaign, and it was just paint, nothing special.

[Knowlesy]

Pretty obvious really.

A cool touch. But you wouldn't want it widespread, just on a Benetton!

[Bononi]

It was cool at the time, strange how things change...

[phoenix]

This is only a rumour (until Sunday) - but overheard from a credible source...

Don't expect KERS to be used off the startline - as the Pirellis allow wheelspin is the first three gears WITHOUT adding the extra torque from KERS......

I hope what I heard was wrong.... but I suspect not.....

[cmotd]

Originally Posted by phoenix

This is only a rumour (until Sunday) - but overheard from a credible source...

who is the credible sauce?

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by cmotd

who is the credible sauce?

Lea & Perrin's

[wnut]

Originally Posted by phoenix

This is only a rumour (until Sunday) - but overheard from a credible source...

Don't expect KERS to be used off the startline - as the Pirellis allow wheelspin is the first three gears WITHOUT adding the extra torque from KERS......

I hope what I heard was wrong.... but I suspect not.....

Guess this is why Adrian Newey was somewhat cold on the inclusion of KERS in the Red Bulls - clever man that!

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by wnut

Guess this is why Adrian Newey was somewhat cold on the inclusion of KERS in the Red Bulls - clever man that!

He actually said that it was crucial to get it working correctly.

"then we need to get it to work if for no other reason than simply performance off the line."

http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes....kers-must.html

I don't think that he knew much about how the Pirelli's behaved or would behave at the time of its inclusion.

If the teams were having problems with wheel spin (Is it really a problem? I thought we wanted to see tyre smoke?) after doing a few practice starts during testing, I'm sure that we would have heard as much from at least one of the drivers/teams by now.

[phoenix]

All though some teams have commented about high wear rates and rapid performance degradation, none of the teams have publicly slated the Pirellis outright, as far as I am aware. That would probably not a good thing to do politically anyway.

The feedback the teams have given Pirelli over the 'testing season' has, I would assume, been used by Pirelli to make modifications where appropriate and practically possible, given the time frame.

If there really are problems with wheelspin then maybe we will only find out of it when the cars are practising and racing this weekend. Then again, maybe it won't be evident to viewers even if it does exist - except maybe some drivers will have more problems dealing with it than others (exiting slow corners in the lower gears, for example).

Only time will tell......

[neiltb]

F1 cars in 800bhp wheelspin ability shocker!!

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by neiltb

F1 cars in 800bhp wheelspin ability shocker!!

I get your point - but I can remember some remarkable Ferrari starts with KERS assistance last time it was used - obviously the tyres back then were able to cope with the extra torque. The suggestion is that the Pirellis won't cope as well.

[Marbot]

Trulli says drivers didn't want these tyres, which is probably true. It was apparently FOTA and FOM that asked for them. So, Jarno, have a word with Martin Whitmarsh or Bernie Ecclestone or maybe even the guy who currently runs the GPDA, Rubens Barrichello, if you feel that they need to be changed.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90101

[Sodemo]

The drivers should be battling wheelspin anyway off a start. All these start maps and other stuff really take the skill out of making a good getaway.

I want to see drivers lighting up the rears in clouds of blue smoke when they get it wrong.

[neiltb]

but sodemo you forget that the drivers need more grip and until they can take the 1st chicane at Monza at full chat they'll never have enough.

[Adam43]

IIRC in 2009 KERS didn't work until the cars were up to a certain speed. It was after they got going that KERS kicked in and gave them an advantage.

I'm with those fellow posters. Surely all F1 cars can spin their wheels from a standing start anyway. They do and should be able to. The rubber is too go if not (or the cars not powerful enough).

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Adam43

IIRC in 2009 KERS didn't work until the cars were up to a certain speed.

60 mph (100kph approx).

They could always bring back traction control if too many people get offended by spinning wheels and tyre smoke.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Marbot

60 mph (100kph approx).

Thanks.

As that is the case I am failing to see a problem here.

They could always bring back traction control if too many people get offended by spinning wheels and tyre smoke.

Quite.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Marbot

60 mph (100kph approx).

Was/is that mandatory by the regulations. In 2011 technical regulations I couldn't anything.

[Pingguest]

Due to the incredible tyre wear, going off the racing line will be very difficult. Drivers will immediately lose mechanical grip. During the GP2 Asia feature race at Imola this was a major hindering for racing. Could we expect the very same problem in Formula 1?

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Due to the incredible tyre wear, going off the racing line will be very difficult. Drivers will immediately lose mechanical grip. During the GP2 Asia feature race at Imola this was a major hindering for racing. Could we expect the very same problem in Formula 1?

Probably, unfortunately.

This worried me a month or two back when I viewed a couple of images of how many marbles there were on track at testing

But we'll see!

Selby

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Was/is that mandatory by the regulations. In 2011 technical regulations I couldn't anything.

I think that it is just a normal function of the ECU to prevent the use of KERS at speeds below 60 mph. Possibly to prevent it from being used accidentally (or otherwise) in the pit lane?

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Due to the incredible tyre wear, going off the racing line will be very difficult. Drivers will immediately lose mechanical grip. During the GP2 Asia feature race at Imola this was a major hindering for racing. Could we expect the very same problem in Formula 1?

I understand that track temperatures were very, very cool at Imola, and therefore the medium compound Pirelli's didn't really get up to proper operating temperatures.