Pirelli will take Bridgestone's place after 2010

[Pandamasque]

To the earlier point though.. it's a pipe dream that whatever tire the new supplier comes up with (whoever it is) would be anything like the current Bridgestone. Probably different shape, different materials, different construction, different compounds...

Every day the prospect of having B-stone for another year is getting more and more likely. Probably on different terms.

[WhiteBlue]

Every day the prospect of having B-stone for another year is getting more and more likely. Probably on different terms.

Not according to the sources that have been reporting on the tyre issue before. You must have an exclusive source.

[Pandamasque]

I do. Logic. It'll be cheaper to persuade B-stone than to design a completely new car from scratch starting later than usual.

Although I do hope we'll see new and different tires next year.

[WhiteBlue]

We did know from the beginning that it would cost 80 mil $ to bring Bridgestone back which is 6 mil $ per team. That is completely out of question AFAIK. Your logic to me sounds more like wishful thinking. But let us not be hasty. The solution will be revealed in the fullness of time.

[mx_tifoso]

It looks like Pirelli will be our 2011 tyre supplier. Most large news places certainly believe it.

Reports are 1M euros per team for soft, medium, and hard compounds, and the mandatory inters and full wets.

http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/Pire ... plier.html

[WhiteBlue]

It was predicted by AMuS four days ago.
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 62005.html
So it is not exactly a surprise.

[Jersey Tom]

Disappointing. Oh well. What ya gonna do.

We'll see how it shapes up. Gonna be one hell of an accelerated development program.

[WhiteBlue]

JT, what is your specific criticism with Pirelli? You have previously criticized their products. Is there anything you know of their methods or their setup as a company that lets them look inferior other than their size which is much smaller than Michelin?

[Jersey Tom]

Their performance in other race series. They had a spec tire in SCB, didn't work out. They were in and out of F1 back in the day with marginal performance.

It's a crap situation for them either way though... that they're stuck with having to re-develop an entire F1 program in well less than a year. Took Bridgestone years of testing in the mid 90's.

We'll see how it shakes out.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Pirelli is the best option.

They are the only guys who want an 18inch tyre in F1. No more gumball tyres means a few things. Namely F1 is bang up to date with the real world, I mean who uses 13 inch tyres nowadays?
Secondly, if the tyre grip level is reduced, we may see more overtaking!

I will let the rubber guys and afficionados explain( )

[WhiteBlue]

If I understand the situation right the switch to 18 inch wheels will come in 2012 earliest. So Pirelli will bring 13 inch wheel tyres which most likely will be some years back in technology.

That will not necessarily be a bad thing in my view. Modern designs like the current Bridgestones are incredibly edgy and difficult to set up.

The small wheels also have their advantages. Teams know their basic properties and suspensions do not have to be re designed for them. They are likely to give the lowest unsprung masses at the corners of the cars. With plenty of time to adjust to a change in 2012 the 18 inch wheels can be introduced with carefully re written rules.

[raymondu999]

What I'm wondering is actually how they will alter the balance of the cars. I believe Michelins used to be a rearward bias, and now the Bridgestone slicks seem quite understeery as they have front tyres almost half the size of the rears. But what about the new ones?

[Jersey Tom]

Pirelli is the best option.

They are the only guys who want an 18inch tyre in F1. No more gumball tyres means a few things. Namely F1 is bang up to date with the real world, I mean who uses 13 inch tyres nowadays?
Secondly, if the tyre grip level is reduced, we may see more overtaking!

I will let the rubber guys and afficionados explain( )

A large portion of the world uses 13-15" tires on consumer vehicles. Expensive sportscars on 18, 19, and 20" wheels are a tiny sliver of the market (though they do get a lot of attention). Of course, that's not particularly important anyway since there's absolutely no f'ing reason that race cars have to be remotely similar to road cars. Beyond that, there's absolutely nothing more "high tech" or "advanced" about an 18" tire compared to 15" or 13".

I was under the impression only Michelin wanted to go up to 18" wheels. Pretty obvious why, and it has nothing to do with "synergies" with their sportscar tire development. Massive load of BS.

[WhiteBlue]

I was under the impression only Michelin wanted to go up to 18" wheels. Pretty obvious why, and it has nothing to do with "synergies" with their sportscar tire development. Massive load of BS.

No, Pirelly was after 18 inch wheels as well!

[Jersey Tom]

Huge scam or dumb idea either way.