Thoughts on 2012 tyres?

[marcush.]

The main thing is as you said the rediculous dropoff when pushing .I´d think the teams should know by now how much longer they can carry them in relation to leaving performance on the plate.
do you think tyre preconditioning would be a proper way to make the tyre live longer at higher loads(pushing harder) or is it something just knocking off ultimate grip in the end?

[JimClarkFan]

When a large business begins its venture to gain more customers, it's always at the expense of either the soul of the product they are selling and/or the enjoyment of the most passionate fans.

Yeh, seems to be that way as they attempt to commercialise F1 even more. I like the fact that there are different people winning races every week but not at the expense of the racing.

I am beginning to have a massive issue with the tyres. It's preventing proper qualifying which is arguably the best part of the race weekend.

Also a lot of people keep saying it is the tyres that have brought the teams closer together but its not, it is the fact that the rules have remained largely unchanged from this year from last with the exception of the blown diffusers and the nose.

[bhall]

The main thing is as you said the rediculous dropoff when pushing .I´d think the teams should know by now how much longer they can carry them in relation to leaving performance on the plate.

Maybe they do know, but are helpless to do anything about it. One of the consequences of these tires aside from the massive drop off is that they have a strong tendency to bunch up the field. It's hard to call for a pit stop when faced with the extreme loss of track position the stop sure to cause.

[marcush.]

right and wrong

the bunching up should allow you to start the race on primes without getting into too much trouble and stay out considerably longer or considerably shorter,getting yourself out of sequence and opening opportunities to use the potential of the car.

But due to the fact the tyres have no subtstance..i think you need to stop more often ...but thats only useful when you have brandnew tyres only-so no running at all in Q...?

[hardingfv32]

1) Is this massive drop off well demonstrated during the races? I assume we are talking about drop off of the primary tread compound.

2) Race drop off does nothing to explain why teammates can have such different qualifying experiences. We are talking about the second lap on the tire during qualifying.

Brian

[bhall]

the bunching up should allow you to start the race on primes without getting into too much trouble and stay out considerably longer or considerably shorter,getting yourself out of sequence and opening opportunities to use the potential of the car.

Starting on primes would mean a driver qualified on primes, which means he's likely nowhere near pole position. That said, I think this race will definitively prove that it's more beneficial stay in the garage during Q3 this year than it is to actually take part in the session. Vettel, Schumacher and Kobayashi all stayed put during Q3, so they should be able to do exactly what you described.

[Cam]

The 2012 tyres have succeeded in producing a greatly varied result. More people are watching and talking about it. For the commercial rights holder(s) and investors it's all going exactly to plan. F1 was about being the pinnacle of motor sport. If what Michael says is true "whether they should last a bit longer, and that you can drive at normal racing car speed and not cruise around like we have a safety car.", is F1 still the pinnacle? Is hard to argue when everyone now 'manages to limits' the and not 'pushes the limits'. Close racing is available on any number of different categories from open wheels to tin tops - can we not have just one where pure flat out racing can still live?

[marcush.]

the bunching up should allow you to start the race on primes without getting into too much trouble and stay out considerably longer or considerably shorter,getting yourself out of sequence and opening opportunities to use the potential of the car.

Starting on primes would mean a driver qualified on primes, which means he's likely nowhere near pole position. That said, I think this race will definitively prove that it's more beneficial stay in the garage during Q3 this year than it is to actually take part in the session. Vettel, Schumacher and Kobayashi all stayed put during Q3, so they should be able to do exactly what you described.

I´m very disappointed that it took them 5 races to try this.Pole is not worth much
and I´m not even sure if you need to bother about making it into Q2.
In a world where Marrussia and HRT are figuring out race strategies apart from staying out of trouble ..

[bhall]

Considering that Vettel and Kobayashi both finished ahead of their "non-qualifying" positions and about as well as their cars would allow, I'd say that reasonably settles the "importance" of Q3 this year.

I wasn't tuned-in when whatever happened to Schumacher occurred, so I have no idea what happened. But, the chances of being involved in something are always increased when running further from the front. Staying out of trouble might be the only real tangible benefit to pressing on in Q3, provided that strategy can, in fact, put a driver further ahead initially.

Of course, this all gets tossed on its head in Monaco, where qualifying is everything. But, I wouldn't put it past Pirelli to destroy that notion, too.

[SeijaKessen]

There's a feeling I have that the tire degradation is going to be awful at Monaco.

[SeijaKessen]

Also the marbles may prove really problematic especially since on regular tracks, corners are getting shrunken because of them. The tunnel has the potential for a disaster of an accident.

[hardingfv32]

.... can we not have just one where pure flat out racing can still live?

Sure, if you want to get enough people together to pay for it. Money talks...

Brian

[hardingfv32]

J Button, "I am alright in clear air but then as soon as I am in traffic I can't keep any heat in the tyres."

What car or tire characteristics would create the situation described by Button? I would think that traffic would mean poorer aero performance and possibly more tire slip.

Brian

[bhall]

Or maybe being in traffic slowed him down too much to keep heat in the tires. The operating window for these rubber wonders is about the size of a toaster slot.

[Jersey Tom]

Or maybe it's just lack of downforce and has nothing to do with tire temperature