Pirelli Tyres News : Discloses 2017 F1 Car Tyre Range

The complete range of 2017 size F1 tyres was displayed in the Yas Marina paddock at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, together with a first look at the new tread pattern for the Cinturato intermediate and wet tyres.

There’s a change in the tyre size as the front tyre has been made wider by 60mm, now becoming 305mm from 245mm earlier. The rear tyre also saw an increase in width by 80mm, now 405mm from 325mm earlier. This means that the 2017 tyres are about 25% wider than the current ones. This is applicable to the intermediate and full wet tyres as well as the slicks. The Cinturato intermediate tyres and full wet tyres will have a diameter of 675mm and 680mm respectively. There’s no change made to the rim size that remains 13-inch.

The development of the new 2017 tyres took over 10 sessions, making a combined total of 24 cumulative days of running. The test programme began in early August using individual mule cars. The latest test concluded last week at Abu Dhabi with Ferrari, it became possible thanks to a change in FIA sporting regulations. On coming Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (November 29) the three mule cars from Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull will be seen on the track together for the first time.

The three teams have provided a modified 2015 car each that has been adapted according to specific technical directives from FIA in order to stimulate next year’s regulations, with more downforce, a wider track and wider tyres. Each car has completed 7-days of running so far with the work equally split on slick tyres in all the different compounds as well as intermediate and wet tyres. The coming Tuesday, 29th November will be the 8th day of running for each of the three teams, making up a cumulative total of 24 days that completes this year’s development programme agreed by the teams, the FIA and Pirelli. Pirelli is satisfied with the results so far obtained, despite the difficulties that the teams have faced in modifying their 2015 cars in order to exactly simulate the performance expected next year.

While they have delivered an increase in downforce compared to current cars, the mule cars are still some way from the real performance of the 2017 cars, which will influence the way the compounds behave in particular. A number of these compounds, designed with a new philosophy and new materials, have already begun to meet the targeted objectives: lower degradation and greater resistance to overheating. This allows them to consistently maintain an optimal level of grip. All these results will be validated in representative conditions at the start of new year.

A complication occurs from the fact that some European tests have been done in cold conditions and rain, thereby limiting the relevance of these tests to some extent. Based on the data obtained during races development will continue to take place throughout 2017, to supply a further evolved product in 2018. These things have been discussed and agreed upon with all the teams, with whom Pirelli is already working to define a new test plan for next season.

Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery, was thankful to the teams for allowing them to develop new wider tyres for 2017, using mule cars. He also told that with the new tyres that lap time will get lower by 5 seconds compared to 2015. He said he is optimistic for the year 2018, as it will see cars move faster than now.