Red Tyres

[m3_lover]

F1 will introduce the so-called 'red rule' to coincide with the beginning of the sport's sole tyre supplier era, we have learned.

It is understood that, in order to enhance Bridgestone's visibility after the withdrawal of Michelin, and to spice up the action for spectators, running two distinct tyre compounds - a 'hard' and a 'soft' - during every race will be mandatory for drivers.

Bridgestone pioneered the idea, involving the colouration of red tyre-walls to differentiate the softer tyre, in Champ Car.

It is understood that all eleven teams and the FIA have agreed to implement the rule for 2007.

[johny]

one week we can see no red tyre, the next one yes to red tyre. I think it should be a good rule, won't be very important for racing but mainly it'll help spectators and also bridgestone will get an "extra image" with those red walls

[Ciro Pabón]

2007 Sporting Regulations are clear (or confusing, depending on your set of mind!) :

77) Use of tyres
a) Each team will be allocated eight sets of dry-weather tyres, four of each specification, for use during P1 and P2. These are the only dry-weather tyres which may be used during these sessions and must
be returned to the tyre supplier before the start of P3.
b) Each driver will be allocated ten further sets of dry-weather tyres, five of each specification, for use during the remainder of the Event. However, one set of each specification must be returned to the tyre supplier before the start of the qualifying practice session and may not be used during the
remainder of the Event.
c) Prior to the start of the qualifying practice session wet and extreme-weather tyres may only be used after the track has been declared wet by the race director, following which extreme, wet or dryweather tyres may be used for the remainder of the session.
d) Unless he has used wet or extreme-weather tyres during the race, each driver must use at least one set of each specification of dry-weather tyres during the race.

I am thinking Alonso is right when he declares today ("El País", España):

"Adaptation to tires will be a key", said Alonso; "they are very hard and has less grip. All of us have to work as much as possible to adapt the suspensions. And I believe even Ferrari has had problems".

... not to mention the new strategy to be developed around the new article 77.

It seems some sort of "viral marketing" for Bridgestone. I've read in several sites that it is "red tyres" or oblivion.

[Ciro Pabón]

Sorry to post again: it dawns on me that the "red tire issue", wether the tires are red, blue or silver (ehem...), implies the following scenario:

You have two sets of dry weather tyres. And you have two sets of race tracks (my favorite item in this forum!): curvy and "straighty".

Arbitrary definition: a curvy track, after the "red tire rule" is one that has curves (duhhhh...) and/or an asphalt and "traffic conditions" (my next favorite item!) that wears heavily the rubber.


This means that, let's say, "softer" drivers, i.e., those that start with softer compounds on a curvy race track, should have some advantage to overtake in the first "half" of the race, while "harder" drivers on harder compounds, overtaken and all, will pit later because their tires will last longer. This is clear from the beginning.

However, the rules say that if it rains, the ones who have advantage, that is (I assume), in the curvy track the "softers" and in the "straighty" track, the "harders", will keep it. This, I hadn't realized, will bring different team strategies.

Are there any flaws in that crude analysis? How complicated can it be?

[joseff]

Well you could also have a curvy track that on raceday turns unexpectedly hot, tipping the balance towards hard tire runners.