2011 18" tyres...

[Holm86]

FIA is thinking about intruducing new 18" tyres for the rear of F1 cars next year.
This would increase the mechanical grip of the rear.
But this would also increase drag quite significantly i believe and hence cut down the top speed of the cars.
But do you think this would help with overtaking??

[Edis]

As I understand it, it's not a discussion about using 18" wide rear tires, but using 18" rims both front an rear. That way, F1 tire technology could be shared with sportscar racing which also runs 18" wheels.

[WhiteBlue]

viewtopic.php?p=159483&f=1#p159483

It is already discussed in the Bridgestone leaving thread.

I don't understand that people cannot even check the active topic side before they open another new thread. Sensible people will understand that the tyre debate will continue with new information every two weeks until the issue is settled. Does it make sense to open another 20 tyre specification threads until next year to deal with that issue? All we get is endless repetition of the basic opinions on tyres.

[kilcoo316]

As I understand it, it's not a discussion about using 18" wide rear tires, but using 18" rims both front an rear. That way, F1 tire technology could be shared with sportscar racing which also runs 18" wheels.

Ahh, thank you.

I wasn't sure as all the terms used in the press articles on it seemed to be at odds with the technical impact of such changes. (No surprise there then! )

[kilcoo316]

I don't understand that people cannot even check the active topic side before they open another new thread.

The potential change in tyre regulations is unconnected with Bridgestone's departure.

It deserves a thread of its own.


I for one, would not post this info in the bridgestone thread, but would have made a separate thread as the OP has done.

[Jersey Tom]

FIA is thinking about intruducing new 18" tyres for the rear of F1 cars next year.
This would increase the mechanical grip of the rear.

Oh? Says who?

What's the point of going to 18" rim diameter? Who cares? Not like the cars don't have insane response levels as it already is.

I also wouldn't believe any arguments about being more 'relevant' to consumer passenger tires, or sportscar racing. Completely different applications and requirements.

And even if it magically did invite more tire manufacturers in.. doesn't mean you'd have a product that was any good.

Bottom line, it's a huge change.. would require big time engineering work from the race teams, brake suppliers, wheel manufacturers...

[Giblet]

The argument about relevance is purely a visual one, but a valid one.

Visually, people can relate to the tires more, and if they see a car with a tire that looks like theirs, they might be swayed.

I saw a Monte Carlo SS with a big "24 Jeff Gordon" badge on the C-pillar. Half of the reason people buy things is pure aesthetics.

Just sayin...

[rjsa]

It would be great. Would completelly mess up the ways suspensions work today, with so much of the work left to tyres.

It was the subject of some nice discussion either here or autosport.com, but I couldn't find the thread.

[WhiteBlue]

I don't understand that people cannot even check the active topic side before they open another new thread.

The potential change in tyre regulations is unconnected with Bridgestone's departure.

It deserves a thread of its own.

Of cause it is connected with Bridgestone's departure. A new tyre supplier is needed and he will try to find cost savings and synergies which Bridgestone didn't due to having all the molds. And it still doen't deserve a thread of its own. Next tyre diameter and width will be discussed and all these issues are connected as one view into the existing thread would have shown.

[Holm86]

Im very sorry im new in here .... did'nt figure the bridgestone thread was the place to post this.

I just thought it was on the rear they were going to run 18".
But i thing it woul look stupid both front and back ... 18" is way too tall ....
But increasing the tyrediameter woul also increase the contact area of the rubber.

I would rather see the old wider front tyres and then even wider rears .....

[autogyro]

Are you sure this is a suggested diameter increase.
I only read of an increase in rear tyre width to 18".
There is a thread with images of larger rims over 13" but I have not seen anything on the tyre diameters.

[Jersey Tom]

I don't understand that people cannot even check the active topic side before they open another new thread.

The potential change in tyre regulations is unconnected with Bridgestone's departure.

It deserves a thread of its own.

Of cause it is connected with Bridgestone's departure. A new tyre supplier is needed and he will try to find cost savings and synergies which Bridgestone didn't due to having all the molds. And it still doen't deserve a thread of its own. Next tyre diameter and width will be discussed and all these issues are connected as one view into the existing thread would have shown.

Regardless of who the manufacturer is.. regardless if its 13" or 18", they'll have to cut new molds. Molds are gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the expense.

[Holm86]

Are you sure this is a suggested diameter increase.
I only read of an increase in rear tyre width to 18".
There is a thread with images of larger rims over 13" but I have not seen anything on the tyre diameters.

"There is also a high chance that revisions to the cars already in the pipeline will help the situation further. Double diffusers have already been banned for 2011, which should cut downforce levels, while it is understood that the FIA is looking at increasing the diameter of F1's rear tyre rims to 18 inches for next year - up from the 13 inches of the current generation."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82593

[kilcoo316]

Would it be advisable to change the width and diameter of the tyres while they are at it?

Bigger tyres = more drag (of the smaller scale isotropic variety which isn't so bad for following).

At the same time widen the track and the drag pocket increases while a decent diffuser ruling could allow for some reasonable air in the wake at the car centreline and near the ground plane.

[pascaljackson]

wider tires? please yes, but just with the old v10 engines with almost 1000hp...i bet then we´ll defiantly get more action