Time for the wheels to go

Agreed. In the Pirelli video, it point out the increased safety of using a modern tire, FWIW. You'd think on that alone (assuming it's true, and I have no reason to doubt it) F1 would make the change.

 

Good point.

 

Sorry, I don't see wheels in that picture, or a car either.....

 

F1 has bigger issues to sort out than the size of it's wheels...

 

As already noted, I honestly don't have a problem with them. I've been watching for longer than I care to remember, and I guess just 'accept' them as part of the game. I guess I'd get used to bigger wheels, but they just don't look 'right' to me.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I don't get bored looking at post #21

 

Just don't go too big like this, i don't think Pirelli Tires makes these size.
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13" wheels, open cockpit, open wheels, etc... all this just to please the "traditionalists"..

F1 really needs to join the 21st century, with 18" wheels, closed cockpits and enclosed wheels, to make the cars relevant in the modern world.

 

Pirelli fitted 18 inch tires on GP2 cars racing at Monaco last year. They looked good, but the F1 teams didn't like them.

 

then again, F1 isn't exactly relevant in the modern world. most car racing is a lot of fun but very much irrelevant in the modern world.

 

Hideous imo
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I am imagining how hard it will be to the driver's spine if they go forward with the 18" tire... A road car has a lot of "cushion" but an one-seater formula is a completely different world.

 

They already are making the suspensions taking into consideration the flexibility of the tyre. With 18´ they´ll have to use softer springs, etc...

 

That's because of how the suspension is designed.

IF they do go the 18's route, suspension will be vastly different.

 

I agree...hideous. BUT...not because of the rim size. The whole car looks like it's made from Legos and cardboard.

 

I seriously doubt that.
Softer springs = loss of performance.
The designers and teams wont allow that.

 

Softer springs/suspension doesn't mean they'll be riding like your dad's Cadillac.

 

Hang on guys.

Right now, they're getting massive compliance from the huge sidewalls. Means they don't really need any suspension as such - look at the wishbones - they're just designed to flex a little on their mounts. It is what it is, they've determined they don't need 'real' suspension.

If they go to low profile tires they'll have to do suspension like in the old days - Rose joints & the like as mentioned above. It's definitely doable. Just a different setup to what we've got used to.

Won't really impact lap times, in fact, it may make 'em faster IMO.

Cheers,
Ian

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_end_bearing

 

No foolin ?
Boy do I look stupid.

 

That is one ugly looking thing..

 

But the point is that you design springs and shocks for maximum performance on a race car, not for comfort. Would the regulations dictate maximum spring rates or a standardized part ? I really doubt it. Nowadays the 13" tire IS really the cushion.