Wheel covers

[timbo]

From Peter Wrights book on the 2000 ferrari

Components         DRAG      |    DOWNFORCE   | L/D RATIO
               CD     %TOTAL | CL      %TOTAL |         
FRONT WING     0.123  13.2%  | 0.966   36.9%  | 7.859
REAR WING      0.297  31.8%  | 0.899   34.4%  | 3.029
UNDERFLOOR     0.099  10.6%  | 1.080   41.3%  | 10.911
FRONT WHEELS   0.150  16.0%  | -0.038  -1.4%  | -0.251
REAR WHEELS    0.187  20.1%  | -0.061  -2.3%  | -0.326
TURNING VANE   0.023  2.4%   | -0.020  -0.8%  | -0.889
OTHER          0.055  5.9%   | -0.210  -8.0   | -3.793
TOTAL          0.935  100%   | 2.617   100%   | 2.802

This puts the tyres at approx 36% of the drag. Bear in mind this was from 2000 and with one specific setup (front rh=16mm, rear rh=46mm, medium downforce) I could see todays numbers being higher as the rear wheels are no longer hiding under kickups etc.

On a side note it also shows why the diffuser is a big deal - along with the floor it contributes 41% of all down force with the smallest drag penalty.

Wow! This book must be a gem!

[Tim.Wright]

Yea its an awesome book. From an engineering perspective it is pure porn and therefore is probably illegal in Singapore and some other places...

The info that Peter Wright had access to was so detailed that he had to wait 4 years (I think) before he was allowed to ake the information public.

Tim

[J-Raid]

Those are some interesting figures.

ANd, as said before, surely nowadays the tyres account for bigger % of drag, both for no longer having any bodywork near to help reducing turbulence, and for the wing effcieincy increase since 2000. As well this year's wing, given their size reduction and change of placement, should create less drag.

SO surely they are in the 40-50% region at least.

ANyway, my main point is seing ways to reduce that tyre drag, yet not disturbing too much the F1 concept