Formula 1 Basics - Tyres

In the days of old, a number of manufactures supplied different teams with different tyres. In the modern era, Pirelli provides all teams with identical rubber. There are 5 specifications of dry tyres and 2 specifications of wet tyres.

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Dry Weather

In dry weather, Pirelli nominates 2 tyre types that are mandatory for each race, depending on the characteristics of the track. Circuits with long, high speed apexes require a much more durable compound to last the race distance. In order for drivers to fill the 2 compound quota, a minimum of 1 pit stop is needed.

Dry weather tyres are also known as slicks due to their smooth surface.

Name	Color	Tread	Grip	Durability
Hard	Orange	Slick	1 - Least Grip	5 - Most Durable
Medium	White	Slick	2	4
Soft	Yellow	Slick	3	3
Supersoft	Red	Slick	4	2
Ultrasoft	Purple	Slick	5 - Most Grip	1 - Least Durable

Wet Weather

Wet weather tyres are designed to displace as much water as possible. This is to avoid aquaplaning, where the car loses traction due to a pool of water separating the tyre and track surface. Aquaplaning is the cause of many wet weather incidents.

Name	Color	Tread	Conditions
Intermediate	Green	Treaded	Light standing water
Wets	Blue	Treaded	Heavy standing water

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Undercutting

The best way to understand the importance of tyres is to understand the strategy called 'undercutting'. The idea of undercutting is to make a pit stop a few laps before the car you are trying to catch. After the stop, with a new and possibly higher grip compound, you can expect to set much quicker lap times than the car with older, more worn tyres. When your opponent completes his pit stop a few laps later, you will have hopefully gained enough time to come out ahead.

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Tyre Management

Tyre management can create an interesting dynamic in a race that may appear to be quite dull. The compounds require huge levels of heat to run at maximum efficiency and this can cause problems. On the circuits with hotter track surfaces, tyre blisters are a factor. This is where the compound begins to break down, bubble and pieces may detach. Drivers who find themselves with severely degraded tyres - before they have reached strategy targets - may have an undesired pit stop in their race.

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