| Author | Message | ||
| ryan (Ferrari_kid)
New member Username: Ferrari_kid Post Number: 26 Registered: 7-2003 |
Michelins are more square (i.e., larger frontal area) than the bridgestones are much "rounder" (i.e., smaller), as I said in the "budapest" post. i was reading somewhere about the michelin working with renault to develope re-active suspension to help keep a better contact patch with the track. i guess that's another "gray" area in the rule book that they're going to see if they can play with. the squared off tires is suppossed to be with that type of suspension in mind. when they were questioned about it the response was something to the effect of, "our tires will be able to adapt to the everchanging environment of F1." | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 919 Registered: 11-2002 |
The FIA could not organise their way out of a paper bag. This will make them look absolutely stupid as Joe Bloggs will not understand how a tyre was allowed to race that was too wide ... after all a hardly hidden thing  Pete | ||
| Lou B (Toby91)
Member Username: Toby91 Post Number: 305 Registered: 4-2001 |
The UK car mags are saying the FIA has acted and are requiring the tires meet the max width limit after the race. They show pics of a worn Michelin with wear wider than the spec. Michelin is scrambling to make new molds etc. Ferrari is even hinting they may officially challange the results of past races. the F1 war is getting hotter. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 916 Registered: 11-2002 |
Andy,
Watch the Michelin shod cars before their tyres warm up Pete | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Member Username: Beast Post Number: 293 Registered: 5-2003 |
Andy; Contact patch is everything. If the patch gets larger it will allow to car to have more bite and shorter breaking distances. The plain and simple truth is that Michelin found a grey area in the rule book and took advantage of it. Now that grey area has been exposed and they have to refigure there game plan. Normal evolution of racing, a racer will try to find every possible advantage within the rules. I myself got nailed for using a fuel additive at a jet ski race that was not specificly listed as forbbiden, Yet when the officials saw the increase in performance and the toxic fumes comming out my ski it was listed as an illegal additive. Rob | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Junior Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 242 Registered: 3-2003 |
So what are they trying to accomplish? I'm missing the point. If Michelins have performed so well lately that its common for the Michelin-shod teams to do double stints with front tires, how will reducing their size a couple of mm mean anything? When was the last time you saw an F1 car understeer? | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Junior Member Username: Wax Post Number: 198 Registered: 7-2003 |
Apparently, the tires will be measured *after* the race. This may mean Michelin-shod cars will be making more frequent and/or later pit stops. One other advantage, if you will, that Ferrari has over Michelin: Since the rest of the teams are using the same Michelin tires; they can't predict what Ferrari is doing with their setups and adjustments, whereas the Michelin-shod teams can figure out what the other teams are doing. Two-edged sword, aye? | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Intermediate Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 1322 Registered: 1-2002 |
>>The FIA added that the tread width of the front tyre must never exceed 270 mm, including during "certain circumstances", or in other words, when the car is moving on the track. << Michelins are more square (i.e., larger frontal area) than the bridgestones are much "rounder" (i.e., smaller), as I said in the "budapest" post. | ||
| Drew Altemara (Drewa)
Junior Member Username: Drewa Post Number: 185 Registered: 2-2002 |
I saw this. I wonder if Ferrari/Bridgestone comlained or turned them in. | ||
| Kevin S. (Wolfgang5150)
New member Username: Wolfgang5150 Post Number: 36 Registered: 5-2003 |
Okay so what is going on here?? Does the FIA know something we don't? There' something fishy with the tire wars this year: The FIA is watching the tyre manufacturers The performance of a tyre can make a team win or lose races. For this reason, it is very important that the two tyre manufacturers follow the rules so that the championship is fair and without controversy. The FIA decided to have a careful look at the situation, especially for the last three races of the season, and sent a letter to the F1 participants reminding them of one particular rule and added that for now everything was still fine. In the letter the FIA talks about article 77 of the sporting regulation that mentions : the tread width of the front tyres' must not exceed 270 mm (at a pressure of 1,4 bar) The FIA added that the tread width of the front tyre must never exceed 270 mm, including during "certain circumstances", or in other words, when the car is moving on the track. The FIA is not accusing anyone for now but is making a little warning. However we can guess that suspicion started from somewhere and that the FIA believed it was serious enough to justify a little intervention. Bridgestone engineers don't feel concerned by this warning, saying that their tyres are behaving differently than those of their rival Michelin. The French manufacturer will probably respond soon, saying that they don't feel more concerned then their Japanese colleagues over the situation. The only thing that we can be sure of today is that Bridgestone are making front tyres with an overall width of 32,96 cm while Michelin supplies tyres with an overall width of 35,5 cm. The regulation stipulates that the front tyres must have an overall width that is in between 30,5 cm and 35,5 cm. On that aspect, the two manufacturers follow the rules to the letter. Kevin S. |