Formula One tyres play a significant role in the performance a Formula One car. A modern Formula One car is a single-seat open cockpit open wheel race car with substantial front and rear wings and engine positioned behind the driver The tyres have undergone significant changes throughout the history of Formula One, with different manufacturers and specifications used in the sport. This article is about tires used on road Vehicles including pneumatic tires and solid tires. Formula One has its roots in the European Grand Prix motor racing ( q

Formula One tyres bear only a superficial resemblance to a normal road tyre. Whereas the latter has a useful life of up to 80,000 km, the tyres used in Formula One are built to last less than one race distance. This is determined by the compound of the rubber used. In 2005, tyre changes were disallowed in Formula One, the compound was harder as the tyres has to last the full race distance (around 300 km). "F1 2005" redirects here For the video games based on the 2005 Formula One season see F1 05 & F1 Grand Prix. Tyre changes were re-instated in 2006, following the dramatic and highly political 2005 United States Grand Prix (see below). The 2005 United States Grand Prix was one of the most controversial

By regulation, the tyres feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down (a slick tyre, with no indentations, is best in dry conditions). They can be no wider than 355 mm and 380 mm at the front and rear respectively. Slick tyres are to be reintroduced as of 2009 (which has been confirmed by the FIA in addition to the fact that many teams have been testing the 2009 specification rubber in testing) but the FIA regulations (though they can be changed) still have F1 using "grooved" tyres in 2008^[1].

For the 2007 season Bridgestone is the sole tyre supplier and have introduced four compounds of tyre, two of which will be made available at each race. ( is a Japanese Rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan The harder tyre is more durable but gives less grip, and the softer tyre gives more grip but is less durable. Both compounds have to be used by teams in a race and the softer tyre has a painted white stripe in the second groove. This was introduced after the first race of the season when confusion occurred because a small dot was put instead of the white stripe. Each team must use each specification during the race, unless wet or intermediate tyres are used during the race, in which case this rule no longer applies.

In extremely wet weather, such as that seen in the 2007 European Grand Prix, the F1 cars were unable to keep up to the Safety Car in deep standing water due to the risk of hydroplaning. The 2007 European Grand Prix was the tenth race of the 2007 Formula One season. In Motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such Hydroplaning or aquaplaning by a Road Vehicle occurs when a layer of Water builds between the Rubber Tires of the vehicle

Both front and rear tyres are typically 660 mm in diameter^[2].

2005 United States Grand Prix controversy

Main article: 2005 United States Grand Prix

The 2005 United States Grand Prix was plagued by Tyre issues. The 2005 United States Grand Prix was one of the most controversial This article is about tires used on road Vehicles including pneumatic tires and solid tires. This caused the race to be run with only six competitors

On Friday, 17 June 2005, during the afternoon's practice session, Ralf Schumacher driving for Toyota, crashed heavily in Turn 13 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, apparently as a result of a left-rear tyre failure. Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ralf Schumacher (born June 30, 1975 in Hürth-Hermülheim near Cologne is a German racing driver and the younger brother of seven-time The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway Indiana (an Enclave of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Directional stability is the tendency of a moving body to align itself with the direction of motion Turn 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is a high speed banked turn, unique to Formula One racing, that causes a greater than usual lateral (horizontal) load. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway Indiana (an Enclave of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the The Circle of forces or Traction circle is a useful way to think about the dynamic interaction between a vehicle's tire and the Road surface ^[3] This pressure can cause the side walls of the tyre to bow and wear in abnormal places. ^[4] The following day, Michelin reported that the tyres it had provided for its seven customer teams — BAR, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toyota, Sauber, and Williams — were unsafe for extended high-speed use on this turn, and announced its intention to fly in another set of tyres from its Clermont-Ferrand headquarters. British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005 McLaren, founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren (1937&ndash1970 is a Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, UK Red Bull Racing is one of two Formula One teams owned by Austrian Beverage company Red Bull. 1970s and 1980s 1977 Renault first involvement in Formula One was made by the Renault Sport subsidiary Sauber is a Swiss constructor of racing cars for Sportscar racing and Formula One. Not to be confused with Frank Williams Racing Cars, formed by Frank Williams 1967 Clermont-Ferrand ( Auvergnat dialect of Occitan: Clarmont-Ferrand / Clarmont d'Auvèrnhe) is a city and commune of France ^[5] However, the replacement tyres flown in, which were of the type used in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier that year, turned out to have the same problem when tested. The 2005 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held from May 6 to May 8 2005, at Circuit de Catalunya. ^[6]

In a letter to FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting Michelin representatives Pierre Dupasquier and Nick Shorrock revealed that they did not know the cause of Schumacher's tyre failure, and unless the cars could be slowed down in Turn 13, Michelin's tyres would be unsafe and unsuitable for use during the race. Charlie Whiting is FIA Formula One Race Director Safety Delegate Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department in which capacities he generally manages Pierre Dupasquier is the former head of Michelin 's Competition Department ^[7] Whiting replied, expressing his surprise that Michelin had not brought along a second set of tyres, suggesting that the teams be informed of the maximum safe speed in Turn 13, and offered to monitor the turn by penalising any excess speed on the Michelin cars. He also addressed several solutions which had been proposed by the teams, insisting that use of the tyres flown in overnight would result in penalties, and the placement of a chicane in the turn was "out of the question" — the race would not be sanctioned by the FIA (making it a non-championship race) if the track layout was changed. A chicane is a sequence of tight serpentine curves (usually an S-shape curve or a bus stop in a roadway used in Motor racing and He deemed the Michelin teams' proposals to be "grossly unfair" to the Bridgestone teams. ( is a Japanese Rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan ^[7] In a second letter Dupasquier and Shorrock announced that they would not permit their teams to race on Michelin's tyres. The race then took place with only the Bridgestone teams taking part.

Manufacturers

Since the start of the 2007 Formula One season Bridgestone have been the sole manufacturer. Pre-season testing Pre-season testing began in November 2006 at the Circuit de Catalunya, with ten of the eleven teams participating in the test sessions ( is a Japanese Rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan Past manufacturers include:

• Avon
• Continental
• Dunlop
• Englebert
• Firestone
• Goodyear
• Michelin
• Pirelli

Records

Ordered by number of races won. Avon Rubber plc is a world-leading manufacturer of high technology Rubber -based products for a number of Manufacturing sectors Continental AG ( internally often called Conti for short is a worldwide leading manufacturer of Tires Brake systems Vehicle stability Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which sells Dunlop branded road tyres in Englebert was a Belgian tyre manufacturing company founded by Oscar Englebert. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons buggies and other forms of wheeled transportation The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Michelin (full name SCA Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin) ( based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne Région Pirelli & C SpA ( is a diverse Multinational company based in Milan, Italy.

Pos	Manufacturer	Seasons [8]	Starts	Wins	Sole supplier	First win	Last win	World Championships
								Drivers	Constr.
1	Goodyear	1959 – 1998	494	368	113[9]	1965 Mexican Grand Prix	1998 Italian Grand Prix	24	26
2	Bridgestone	1976, 1977 1997 – 2008[10]	197	128	69[11]	1998 Australian Grand Prix	2008 Canadian Grand Prix	8	8
3	Michelin	1977 – 1984 2001 – 2006	215	102	0	1978 Brazilian Grand Prix	2006 Japanese Grand Prix	6	4
4	Dunlop	1950 – 1977	175	83	0	1958 Monaco Grand Prix	1970 Belgian Grand Prix	8	9
5	Firestone	1950 – 1975	121	49	11[12]	1950 Indianapolis 500	1972 Italian Grand Prix	4	3
6	Pirelli	1950 – 1991	200	44	0	1950 British Grand Prix	1991 Canadian Grand Prix	6	0
7	Continental	1954 – 1958	13	10	0	1954 French Grand Prix	1958 Argentine Grand Prix	2	0
8	Englebert	1950 – 1958	61	8	0	1955 Monaco Grand Prix	1958 British Grand Prix	2	0
9	Avon	1954 – 1982	29	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0

References

External links

• FIA tyre regulation summary
• FIA tyre regulations
• The Aerodynamic Development of the Formula One Car
• Bridgestone Teams, Single Tyre Formula And Sole Supplier
• The ATLAS Rough Guide: How to Set Up a Formula One Car (Part One)
• MSN Formula One: Tyres