autoevolution
 

Bridgestone Dismiss Tire Use Speculations

Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone, currently sole supplier for the Formula 1 championship, expressed hope that the F1 teams will adapt to the new slick tires in time for the season opener in Australia. Following several problems pointed out by some teams in terms of rear tire use during the winter testing, the Japanese officials argued that it was the track surface that caused the degradation, not the tire texture.

“Jerez's circuit layout is one which is harsh on the rear tires. Also, Jerez in December is colder than we will see during the season, so there was graining on the rear tires and this led to greater degradation than we would see in warmer weather,” autosport.com quoted Bridgestone's motorsport chief engineer Jun Matsuzaki as saying.

However, Matsuzaki believes that the teams will manage to change their cars' setup accordingly during the next testing sessions this winter in order to solve the problem ahead of the first race of the season, scheduled on March the 29th. He also pointed out that understanding the way slick tires work – most significantly the rear tires – can prove decisive with the new aerodynamic changes introduced by the FIA.

“It is still early days for the teams working on their understanding of the slick tires and the aerodynamic regulations, so we would expect improvements in all areas of how teams use their tires.”

“Tire dimension is a factor, but tyre compound and construction play a big part too. The construction of the rear tires was upgraded for the move to slicks to maintain the balance of fronts and rears. The balance of the grip created by tires is still a little on the oversteer side, but this is something which will be countered by car set-up as teams learn how best to use these tires.”

“Tire management was crucial in 2009 and it will also be crucial in 2009. The factors for this management have changed due to the new regulations, so it will be interested to watch the teams and drivers evolve their understanding through the year,” concluded Matsuzaki.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories