Michelin to supply fewer teams with tyres in 2006

[Kicking-back]

Yes it is.

[Gerben24]

In the early 90s til late 90s there was only one tyre supplier. Back then nobody was moaning about it. The racing was fine as well. I don't see what all the fuss is all about.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by esorniloc

I hope it never happens that F1 has a spec tyre - as that means its NOT Formula 1.

So all those years when there was only one tyre manufacturer involved,what was it i was watching?

This season with Ferrari on Bridgestones,we never really got to find out how good (or bad) the car really was,because its performance was masked by its tyres.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

So all those years when there was only one tyre manufacturer involved,what was it i was watching?

That wasn't a control tyre.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

That wasn't a control tyre.

As near as damn it! You could have any tyre you liked,so long as it was black.

Sure,some of the teams made a better job of using the tyres to suit their car.But isn't that what it's all about.Getting the best from what you've got,rather than having it handed to you on a plate.

[Gt_R]

I would suggest that a sole manufacturer is encouraged.

Based on their tyre simulation, they can design 2-3 types which have different strengths, but controlled to make sure one tyre is not vastly better than the other.

Ie. Simplified > A soft compound tyre which is 9/10 good for qualifying, 7/10 good for race. Another hard compound which is 9/10 good for race, 7/10 for qualifying. And a 3rd compound which is 8/10 for each.

Tyres are then comparable, and teams are free to choose. Furthermore, each type of tyres are colour coded so that viewers know which team ran what tyres in the race... involving viewers in the strategic process of Formula One.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

I would suggest that a sole manufacturer is encouraged.

Based on their tyre simulation, they can design 2-3 types which have different strengths, but controlled to make sure one tyre is not vastly better than the other.

Ie. Simplified > A soft compound tyre which is 9/10 good for qualifying, 7/10 good for race. Another hard compound which is 9/10 good for race, 7/10 for qualifying. And a 3rd compound which is 8/10 for each.

Tyres are then comparable, and teams are free to choose. Furthermore, each type of tyres are colour coded so that viewers know which team ran what tyres in the race... involving viewers in the strategic process of Formula One.

That was always my interpretation of a controlled tyre.