The FIA has approved Pirelli Motorsport’s request under article 10.8.3 of the Formula 1 technical regulations to introduce a new specification of slick tyre. Pirelli will first provide this new tyre for the British Grand Prix, which takes place at Silverstone from 7 to 9 July.
A new test by German motorcycle magazine PS has declared Dunlop the top slick track tyre following an extensive test. The magazine chose the Dunlop KR106 (front) and KR108 (rear) pairing as the overall winner in its comparison of seven different track tyres. The PS test crew used a Honda Fireblade SP at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, home of MotoGP’s Catalan Grand Prix. The results were published in PS (6/2021) as part of its Pro-Slick Test feature.
Michelin has developed a new slick iteration of its Pilot Sport Cup UUHP tyre for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). The model is the latest tyre from a technical partnership between the tyre-maker and German car brand of more than 20 years. The new 911 is reserved for the manufacturer’s single-make championships – series that are described as “a valuable proving ground” for Michelin too.
Rodin Cars has enlisted Avon Tyres to supply its radial slick tyres for its new FZED single-seater, which is on sale for £500,000.
An addition to the Metzeler portfolio last year, the Racetec RR Slick is available in soft K1 and medium hard K2 compounds. The grip, handling and ride precision offered by the K2 version, as well as its durability, has now been improved thanks to an entirely new tread compound that Metzeler has developed for this tyre. Ever since the second half of last year, the brand’s own test riders, as well as professional racers and ambitious amateurs, have been active on European race tracks in order to ascertain the best possible compound option.
In a comparative evaluation of five slick track tyres, Performance Bikes magazine (September 2017) has rated the latest Dunlop GP Racer D212 its top choice. John McAvoy and Chris Walker tested the Dunlop rubber together with the Continental Track Slick, Metzeler Racetec RR Slick, Michelin Power Slick Evo and Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slick, and while the GP Racer D212 didn’t deliver the fastest lap time, Walker and McAvoy both “raved about the front, and how fast it turned as well as how much feel it produced.”
The first two races of the DTM season have given drivers the chance to familiarise themselves with the new for 2017 Hankook slick and get reacquainted with the rain tyre. The Ventus Race debuted during Saturday’s event at Hockenheim in Germany, which was won by Mercedes-Benz driver Lucas Auer.
The first race of this year’s DTM season takes place at the Hockenheimring this weekend, and cars competing in the opening round of the touring car championship will drive on an all-new Hankook slick tyre. Hankook Tire reports that the new generation Ventus Race was developed in response to the wishes of series organiser ITR e.V. and while the dimensions have been carried over from the predecessor tyre, it offers a combination of more grip and faster degradation.
Pirelli has renewed its range of products for GT racing at the Blancpain GT Series’ official test and media days at Paul Ricard, France. The main category of the Blancpain GT Series, with Pirelli as a long-term partner, is GT3, in which 15 brands are represented with 28 different models of car. The new slick tyre for the 2017 Blancpain GT Series, which takes in both sprint and endurance races, is called the P Zero DHD. Its new front and rear construction makes the tyre more suitable for the current field of GT3 cars, including a new profile, an optimised contact patch, and a new front size: 325/680-18 (previously 315/680-18).
Cars competing in the DTM this season will wear a completely new generation of Hankook slick. The new Ventus Race is the fourth generation of Hankook slick supplied to the touring car championship and comes in the front axle size 300/680 R 18 and rear axle 320/710 R 18 – the same sizes as used in 2016. Hankook Tire states that it generates more grip than its predecessor and, when pushed hard, will wear more quickly and intensively than the tyres used last season. Depending on driving style, these characteristics are expected to significantly influence lap times.
Toyo’s new full slick competition tyre, the Proxes RS1, was launched in the UK in time for the 2015 season. Its two 15” sizes (195/570R15 and 205/580R15) were joined by the larger 235/620R17, and now Toyo has added two 18” fitments to the range, 245/640R18 and 285/680R18. Toyo states that the tyre is its model for a large and growing market for specialist slick tyres, primarily amongst those that regularly attend track days or participate in club-level motorsport.
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