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F1 Tyre Markings too Discrete

Bridgestone is facing pressure to make alterations to the markings used for identifying the soft compound tyres used during Formula One races. During the Australian Grand Prix Bridgestone chose to distinguish the tyres with a white circle, but many have complained that these markings were so small that they became difficult to spot when the F1 cars were actually moving.

Following the race Bridgestone agreed they would look at alternate forms of marking, but added that the tyres for the upcoming races in Malaysia and Bahrain had already been produced and therefore no changes could be made until the Spanish Grand Prix at the earliest.

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Pleased With Tyres at Australian Grand Prix

Bridgestone is reportedly pleased with the performance of their 2007 season Formula One tyres in Melbourne, the tyremaker’s first Grand Prix as sole tyre supplier. According to the FIA, Bridgestone’s head of track engineering operations Kees van de Grint commented he was “very satisfied with the outcome we have seen in this first race of the season.”

“We fitted more than 1800 tyres this weekend for which we had to increase our staff,” added van de Grint. “Everybody worked very hard, but in good Japanese tradition there is always room to improve.”

In line with this year’s F1 regulations, Bridgestone supplied every team with two tyre compounds, medium and soft, for the Melbourne race. With the rules stipulating that all drivers use both specifications during the race, the majority of drivers – 14 out of 22 – chose to utilise the medium compound tyres during the earlier stages of the race, before switching to the softer rubber during the final laps.

20th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Interview with Kumho’s Dave Hudrlik

(Akron/Tire Review) Dave Hudrlik is vice president of sales for Kumho Tire USA Inc. During the recent Kumho Dealer Meeting, he sat down for an interview with David Moniz, publisher of Tyres & Accessories’ American partner magazine Tire Review.

In the past, Kumho has expressed interest in Formula One racing. Is that still of interest?

“Sure, but that is a lofty goal. We have a desire to go to Mars, and one day we might get there. We have done the development work and we have created a tyre, but there are many other things that go into Formula One. You have to have a lot of infrastructure to support it, not the least of which is brand. So, once the brand gets to a certain level, you can support it. The cost of actually participating in Formula One is huge. So, it’s a work in progress.”

In terms of your fill rate, which you said was around 62%, you want to bring it back up to 97%. And during the meeting you mentioned Kumho is building additional plants in China and Vietnam, and projected how they probably help improve fill rates. What is the timeframe for all of these plants to come on-stream?

14th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Supplying Run-Flats to 2nd Generation X5

According to Bridgestone the new Dueler H/P Sport RFT is designed to give drivers of sporty 4×4 vehicles a tyre that offers the same characteristics as the rubber on leading coupés and saloons. And, so they say, that’s why BMW have selected the Dueler H/P Sport RFT for fitment on the new BMW X5. As an RFT product, this tyre features a reinforced sidewall to provide the run-flat capabilities.

12th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

At Last, the White Strip Rule

As a footnote to the already sizable amount of press space given to the debate on whether differing Formula One tyre compounds should be identified by some type of visual marking, Bridgestone has announced that it will apply a white strip to the outside tyre wall of its ‘option’ specifications during the 2007 season.

The markings are being added in compliance with last minute FIA regulations requiring different compound tyres to be “visibly distinguishable from one another when a car is on the track.”

9th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 to Employ Revised Red Tyre Rule

Bridgestone has confirmed it will visually differentiate its two specifications of dry weather F1 tyres following last-minute changes to this year’s Formula One regulations. This ruling by the Formula One Commission and the FIA World Motor Sport Council means states that the two different tyre compounds – both of which must be used in each race – must be visibly different.

7th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Proposes to Supply Tyres for F1

During an interview with Italian media Pirelli Tyre S.p.A CEO Francesco Gori disclosed that the tyremaker has approached the FIA regarding supplying tyres for Formula One racing. This admission comes only days after the FIA selected Pirelli as sole supplier for the Word Rally Championship’s 2008-2010 seasons.

2nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Four F1 Tyre Types in 2007 – Bridgestone

As Bridgestone prepares for its role as Formula One’s solitary supplier, the tyremaker has disclosed that in 2007 it will supply teams with only four different specifications of dry weather tyres – Hard, Medium, Soft, and Super Soft.

22nd February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Drivers Lukewarm About New Tyres

Kimi Raikkonen has added his voice to that of Robert Kubica in complaining that Bridgestone’s 2007-spec Formula One tyres do not suit his driving style. BMW driver Kubica was the first driver to air his concerns about the harder Bridgestone compounds following tests last December.

When Autosport asked Raikkonen at Jerez whether he thought that the tyres suited his driving style the Finn replied, “No, not really”. He added “I think we need to work on the car to make it work for me. It is getting better all the time but it takes time to get used to (the tyres).”

9th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Another New F1 Tyre Rule Proposed

The FIA is reportedly planning to impose an alternative to the controversial ‘red tyre rule’ during the 2007 Formula One season. Autosport magazine has reported that, in addition to the new regulation requiring drivers to race both the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ compound tyres Bridgestone supplies for each Grand Prix event, teams could also be asked to publish their initial tyre choice.

31st January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Update – F1 Red Tyre Rule

Further to our recent news regarding the Formula One ‘red tyre rule’, it appears that official agreement on the regulations has not as yet been reached. While Bridgestone is happy that the issue has been raised, Bridgestone Motorsport has not at this time held any official discussions with the FIA and the competing teams regarding the proposal. Tyres and Accessories apologises for any confusion our previous news article may have created.

18th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 ‘Red Tyres’ Unlikely

Despite Bridgestone’s support of the idea, it appears that red tyres are unlikely to be a part of the 2007 Formula One season. It now seems all but inevitable that the different rubber compounds required by Article 77c of the FIA Sporting Regulations will hit the racetrack without any accompanying visual identifier.

18th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Fans Will See Red This Year

The FIA and all eleven competing Formula One teams have agreed upon the introduction of the so-called ‘red tyre rule’ for the 2007 season. This rule, strongly advocated by Bridgestone, will see the teams using both hard and soft compound tyres.

15th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 No Closer in 2007 – Trulli

Formula One driver Jarno Trulli believes that racing will not become any closer in 2007 despite all the teams using the same tyres.

12th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

2007 No Easier for Bridgestone Teams – Trulli

Toyota Formula One driver Jarno Trulli believes that Bridgestone’s existing tyre partners will not have an advantage over their competitors in 2007. The sport’s leading teams, including McLaren and Renault, have been compelled to switch to the Japanese supplier following Michelin’s F1 departure at the end of the 2006 season, but 32-year-old Trulli insists that the new 2007 ‘control’ tyre is a vastly different animal to Bridgestone’s 2006 equivalent.

19th December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors