Pirelli tires adapt to the 2012 regulations
With the end of blown diffusers, the aerodynamic balance of the 2012 F1 cars has evolved compared to their predecessors. Pirelli has therefore had to adapt its tires to the new constraints imposed by the 2012 regulations.
Pirelli begins its second season as the exclusive tire supplier in Formula 1, with a completely revised range of tires since last season. A decision made to better align with new technical regulations, having a significant impact on the design of the cars.
Blown diffusers are now banned, and exhausts must now exit higher and further back. Blown diffusers were previously used to improve rear grip on the cars, even when the driver was not in full acceleration.
This measure affects the fundamental balance of the single-seaters, as well as the tires and their way of degrading. The aerodynamics now operate differently, redistributing the forces acting on the tires and altering the drivers’ perception. Additionally, many single-seaters now have stepped noses.
A greater proportion of force on the front axle provides better corner entry capability and superior agility in curves. In addition to this precision, changes of direction at medium and high speed are also optimized.
The flow of forces moving towards the front of the cars, however, results in a weaker rear end. The rear tires must therefore work even harder to prevent sliding in curves and limit slippage during acceleration.
The driving style required to control the rear during these periods of oversteer and skidding creates significant stress on all the tires, resulting in a sharp increase in temperature of the front and rear rubber. The direct consequence of this heat is greater degradation at the rear and a balance that tends to create oversteer in the race.
Pirelli thus offers rear tires providing more grip and adopting a more squared profile to generate more contact surface with the track. The new profiles, designed to redistribute tension more evenly across the overall tire surface, including in extreme conditions, thereby compensate for these recent technical restrictions. At the same time, they evolve perfectly according to driving styles and become more complex and aggressive as the rear grip decreases.
Another important 2012 rule from a tire perspective concerns the number of allocations per driver during a Grand Prix weekend. 11 sets are available for each, in order to see the cars on track more often and not limit the action for spectators in an effort to save tires.
Finally, the marking of the Pirelli tires is more visible than last year, and the rain compounds have a new name: Cinturato. This is the name of the first tire used by Pirelli in Formula 1 in the 1950s.
[From the official Pirelli press release]
