Technology used to detect tyre wear

[Jersey Tom]

For actual circumferential wear, there seems to be an easier way. just compare the wheel speeds with the GPS actual speeds to determine the tire diameter. you could run some fancy algorithm to factor in corner load, downforce, tire growth at speed, if you really wanted to. or you could just look for the relative changes.

If only it were that simple... ton of factors involved. Wheel slip is one not mentioned, in addition to getting accurate estimations of corner loads, camber angles, slip angles, etc. Would have to know how much the tire carcass is softening up as you run - that will be a tough one to tack down. When you propagate your likely error from all of those, I don't see having anywhere near the resolution to pick up fractions of a mm of wear.

[thisisatest]

good points.
back to the drawing board

[Jersey Tom]

I can't think of a good way of doing it. And as I say.. I wouldn't bother with it. It's not value added work, IMO.

If anything you can just take wear measurements (directly) from practice or as sets come off during the race and see what your balance is or estimate how much you're wearing per lap.. but again.. that may be meaningless information - or not adding value.

[speedsense]

For actual circumferential wear, there seems to be an easier way. just compare the wheel speeds with the GPS actual speeds to determine the tire diameter. you could run some fancy algorithm to factor in corner load, downforce, tire growth at speed, if you really wanted to. or you could just look for the relative changes.
as far as degradation "wear", I agree with Tom. just look at the lap times and listen to the screaming driver.

Except that a roll out measurement vs a actual diameter(for wheel speed) on an unloaded race pressured tire are two different numbers. On the race track, running at speed (depending on the speed), you will get a third number. It can change due to rise in pressure, deflation,the track surface, and hills, dips etc. Third, a wheel speed sensor has a phenom called "Jigger" caused by several issues) While the GPS nets a reliable speed number and comparing that to wheel speed (with the above in mind) a very small wear measurement would be undetectable as the influence of the tire speed issues are far greater in size. IMHO

[Paul]

One thing I liked about painted grooves was that there was a way to visually assess wear patterns during the race, and while that doesn't allow to see compound properties changing, that is something still:



I think it would be interesting for viewers with different levels interest in things technical to be able to have some sort of visual aid as far a tyre condition goes, not just trying to guess that from lap times... Not sure how easy that would be to do with slicks though...

[Tim.Wright]

Thing is, what does wear matter if its not affecting the laptime??

[turbof1]

Thing is, what does wear matter if its not affecting the laptime??

If it is not affecting the laptime at the moment itself, it will indicate when it is going to affect it.