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Silverstone tyre failures a result of high kerbs and unconventional usage – Pirelli

Pirelli has released two statements to explain the reasons behind the spate of tyre failures at the British grand prix. The exclusive tyre supplier said that the “sophisticated” asymmetric construction of the current P Zero Formula One slicks meant that tyre management methods employed by teams, such as mounting rear tyres on the opposite side to that for which they were designed, reduced tyre pressures, and extreme cambers had combined with the high kerbs at Silverstone to cause the problems, which Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery described as “completely unexpected”. While Hembery was adamant that the “2013 range of tyres, used in the correct way, is completely safe”, he accepted that Pirelli had “underestimated” the effects that these unconventional running techniques would have on the tyres, and had declined to forbid mounting tyres the wrong way around. In future, Pirelli is seeking, with the agreement of FIA, FOM, the teams and the drivers, greater control over the ways in which its F1 tyres are utilised.

3rd July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Comment: Explosive action – a life lesson for tyre buying consumers?

Company News, Editorial/Comment, International News, News

To say that June was an interesting month for the tyre industry is something of an understatement. It was explosive – and in at least one case literally so. But the drama of it all offers consumers a challenging life lesson.

2nd July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to revert to 2012 tyres, provide Kevlar belt rears in Germany

Pirelli has announced that it will revert to its 2012 construction P Zero Formula One tyres in time for the Hungarian grand prix. For this weekend’s German grand prix only it will provide teams with rear tyres constructed with Kevlar belts at the Nürburgring. Pirelli says the aim of this is to reduce the tyres’ susceptibility to cuts, while Kevlar has the advantage of reducing the working temperature of tyres by around 10 degrees Centigrade. The concern remains that this may alter the competitiveness of some teams’ cars. The reduced damage resistance and hotter running of the steel belt construction tyres are thought to have been two of the factors leading to the high profile tyre failures witnessed at Silverstone.

2nd July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin updates rally range to match ERC regs

In accordance with the new regulations in the FIA European Rally Championship (FIA ERC), Michelin launched its latest range of asphalt rally tyres at the GEKO Ypres Rally between 27 and 29 June. The French tyre maker describes the new Michelin Pilot Sport R range as “streamlined” and “cost-effective” – music to the ears of ERC organisers, whose proposal to restrict tyre usage as of the Ypres Rally was agreed upon by the FIA on 24 May. Organiser Eurosport Events says these measures have been implemented to “reduce the cost of competing in the flagship competition.” This decision followed new tyre regulations introduced by the FIA on 1 May.

2nd July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Ecclestone approves tyre tests, rubbishes possible driver boycott

Bernie Ecclestone has given Pirelli the go-ahead for two three-day tyre tests during the 2013 season with a current F1 car – little over a week since an international tribunal reprimanded the tyre manufacturer and the Mercedes team for the way in which they conducted a previous 1,000km test. While the news follows the number of deflations that occurred at the British grand prix on the Sunday, the Formula One boss revealed the changes were made as a result of a meeting held on the Saturday between FIA president Jean Todt, Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery and Ecclestone himself. Ecclestone also stated his opinion on talk of a driver boycott of the German grand prix if nothing is done to solve the tyre problems at Silverstone: "I don't think that will happen. I don't think it's something we need to address," he told the BBC.

1st July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre failures return in dramatic British grand prix

Anyone predicting that Formula One’s tyre supplier Pirelli could settle in for a quieter end to the 2013 season had a rude awakening at the British grand prix. Three rear left tyre deflations in the first 15 laps decidedly different in character from the delaminations seen earlier in the season led to a lengthy safety car period. During these laps race marshals rushed to clear debris from all around the track, while FIA race director Charlie Whiting was reportedly on the verge of red-flagging the race on safety grounds. But the race continued to a highly compelling conclusion for a passionate crowd of over 110,000 after Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel rolled to a standstill on the home straight, an event that lifted the spirits of a partisan home crowd. They were denied a British victory, though home favourite Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton produced a season’s-best drive to claim fourth following his early tyre failure from first. Mark Webber also pushed the victorious Nico Rosberg close in the final stages, marking an apt last British grand prix for the popular, perennial nearly-man. The fans surrounding Tyres & Accessories near the home straight, who had been more than murmuring their discontent at Pirelli following the early tyre deflations, raised their voices to a crescendo as Hamilton and Webber improvised a tyre strategy to allow them to work their way through the grid.

1st July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli latest P Zero: the ‘harder wearing’ Nero GT

Pirelli has introduced the latest addition to its P Zero family: the new Pirelli P Zero Nero GT. Available in a wide range of fitments, the new ultra high performance tyre was introduced for 2013. The tyre’s headline improvement is increased durability, which Pirelli says it has achieved without affecting driving pleasure, safety and performance. Also underlining the importance of the high performance segment to Pirelli is May 2013’s 50th anniversary celebration of its partnership with Lamborghini.

25th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Mercedes, Pirelli reprimanded over Spain tyre test

Mercedes and Pirelli have been reprimanded for their roles in the controversial tyre test in Barcelona, which followed the pit stop-heavy action of the Spanish grand prix. BBC chief F1 writer Andrew Benson reports that the FIA found Mercedes to be in breach of Formula One rules and subsequently banned the team from taking part in this year’s young driver test at Silverstone on 17-19 July. The BBC reports that the FIA, Mercedes and Pirelli will share equally the costs of the investigation.

21st June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Mercedes, Pirelli await FIA verdict following Paris hearing

Mercedes and Pirelli are waiting for the FIA’s decision on whether any rules were broken during the controversial tyre test that took place in Barcelona in the week after the Spanish grand prix. Pirelli counsel Dominique Dumas contends that it cannot be subject to the FIA’s jurisdiction as it is a supplier, though the FIA has responded that Pirelli’s contract binds the tyre supplier by Formula One regulations.

21st June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Ecclestone distances himself from Michelin F1 speculation

Although no comment has come from Clermont-Ferrand, within the last week Michelin has again been named as a future Pirelli replacement as Formula One tyre supplier. But Bernie Ecclestone has been quick to put the lid on such speculation; in his F1 blog, motor racing journalist Adam Cooper writes that when questioned on the subject, Ecclestone responded: “No idea. I haven’t got a clue. I haven’t spoken to anyone. We have a long-term contract with Pirelli, as the FIA do. And I think most of the teams have – I think they’ve done a deal with all the teams they want to do a deal with.”

14th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli taking 500 tyres to Silverstone

During the second half of June, Silverstone is going to see a lot of Pirelli rubber laid down; while the Northamptonshire circuit will host Formula One’s British grand prix on 28-30 June, this coming weekend (15-16 June) will see the manufacturer take more than 500 tyres to the home of British motorsport. Pirelli Tyre UK motorsport operations manager Matthew Corby predicts that the triple-header of the Pirelli Ferrari Formula Classic, the Pirelli Ferrari Open and the Porsche Club Championship will make for a “flat out” weekend.

12th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli rules out new tyre for Silverstone as Vettel canters to Canada win

Sebastian Vettel used two stops to saunter to his 29th career victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada. Vettel started on the P Zero Red supersoft tyre to sprint ahead of a similarly shod top 10 before switching to the P Zero White medium and completing the race with a final stint on this tyre. Despite wet qualifying conditions, Pirelli also completed some testing of its tweaked rear tyres in Friday practice, and Motorsport director Paul Hembery said the manufacturer would analyse the data gathered “over the next few days” before summarising the differences in performance.

10th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

2014 F1 season too soon for Hankook

While Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli has sought an end to some of the teams’ gripes about its current P Zero tyre specifications, the question of whether it will remain in the series after the expiration of its current contract remains in doubt. A similar list of names to that previously generated in mid-2010 has been circulated, when Bridgestone announced its withdrawal from the series. However, for at least one major player it appears the lack of development time and uncertainty about rule changes in the short to medium term mean that 2014 is too soon to enter the world’s most high-profile motorsport series.

3rd June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli clarifies position on Mercedes test, new 2013 tyres

Pirelli has rebuffed claims that its recent 1,000km test in Spain gave the Mercedes team, with whose 2013 vehicle and drivers the test was completed, any unfair sporting advantage over other teams. Speaking in a conference call with the press this afternoon, Motorsport director, Paul Hembery explained that the purpose of this test was to continue preliminary development for Pirelli’s potential 2014 tyres, though the manufacturer has yet to sign a deal to continue its supply. Hembery also clarified that the company has been allowed to test development tyres with available teams since March 2012, when it wrote to all the F1 teams to inform them of this position. These tests are conducted blind, meaning that only Pirelli can access the data drawn from the laps. Hembery also confirmed some details of the new tyres for use in 2013. The two new tyres are to be available for all teams to test in the Friday practice sessions in Canada, and it is anticipated that the full grid will support their introduction at Silverstone following these sessions. The tyres, Hembery said, are Pirelli technicians’ resolution to the delamination issues witnessed so far this season, and were developed in the laboratory rather than via track testing.

31st May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli seeks F1 tyre resolution with Canada ‘test’

Pirelli will test tyres during the practice session at the Canadian grand prix, the Formula One tyre supplier has announced. While the manufacturer had previously announced its intention to supply a new tyre range in Montreal, several teams, headed by Force India, held up the switch. Pirelli is now hoping to introduce the new P Zero F1 rubber at Silverstone for the British grand prix.

30th May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors