Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Everything you need to know about F1 tyres
From their special features to regulation, we answer all the questions you might have about Formula 1 tyres.
01
Who supplies them?
Pirelli, since 2011, but in the early days of Formula 1, four manufacturers were represented at the Grand Prix: Dunlop, Pirelli, Englebert and Firestone. Later, others joined the pit lane, including Michelin and Bridgestone, who fought a real tyre battle on the racetracks in the early 2000s.
02
Why are there several types of tyres?
Because there are actually several. Seven to be precise: five slick tyres for dry conditions and two rain tyres.
Slick tyres
There are five slick tyre compounds for dry conditions. Each is labelled with a code from C1 to C5. C1 is the hardest, it degrades the slowest but degrades the performance of the car as it takes longer to warm up.
The C5, the softest, warms up particularly quickly and offers perfect grip on the track, allowing the car to go faster. From these five compounds, Pirelli selects only three for each Grand Prix weekend. The choice depends on various factors (such as track layout, track temperature, required aerodynamic downforce).
Rain tyres
The two types of rain tyres, which have grooves to divert water away from the track, are divided into intermediates, which are used in changeable weather conditions or on a drying track, and "full wets", which are used in particularly difficult weather conditions. The latter are designed to displace as much water as possible to prevent aquaplaning. In 2021 at Spa-Francorchamps, the monopostos never took off their rain tyres.
Tyres designed to drain water from the track
© Red Bull Content Pool
03
Why are they coloured?
So that the public and spectators know which types of tyres are fitted to the cars. Even though there are actually seven types of rubber, there are only five colours to distinguish them: Two for the rain tyres (intermediates in green and full wets in blue) and three for the slicks (white, yellow and red).
The hardest tyres, C1 and C2, are white, the C3 is yellow, and finally the softest, C4 and C5, are red, with C1 and C5 distinguished from each other by the absence of coloured stripes. Are you still coming?
04
How many tyres are made available to the teams?
That depends. The FIA regulations stipulate that drivers must use at least two different slick tyre compounds in a race on a dry track.
However, there is no requirement to change tyres during a sprint qualifying weekend or a race on a wet track.
In 2022, for example, Esteban Ocon crossed the finish line at the Turkish Grand Prix without changing tyres even once.
05
The latest developments
From this season, the FIA has decided to impose two pit stops in Monaco with at least two tyre compounds to promote the show on this street circuit.
18-inch tyres for 2022
© Red Bull Content Pool
06
Why are they kept in sleeves?
To stay warm. Because the rubber of a tyre adheres better to the asphalt when it is warm. That's why the drivers warm up the tyres during the formation laps by zigzagging around the track.
These sleeves ensure that the temperature remains stable at 30 °C. A few seconds before the tyres are fitted, they are heated to a maximum of 70 °C.
In the race, soft tyres (C5) work well between 85 and 115 °C. The ideal temperature for the hardest tyres (C1) is between 110 and 140 °C.
07
How big are they?
Since the start of the 2022 season, the tyres have increased in diameter from 13 to 18 inches, which corresponds to a height of 45.72 cm. In width, they now measure 24.5 cm at the front and 32.5 cm at the rear.
08
How much do they weigh?
In total, a tyre including rim, hubcap and sensors weighs 18 kg at the front and 21 kg at the rear.
Tyres have been particularly shiny since 2019
© Red Bull Content Pool
09
How long do they last?
As you can imagine, F1 tyres are designed for performance and not longevity. On average, the life of a tyre is estimated at 50 race laps.
10
Are they recycled?
Yes, after the race the tyres are taken to a specialised factory in Didcot in the UK where they are destroyed and then incinerated to be used as fuel in cement works.
11
Can I fit them to my city car?
If you're a good mechanic and manage to get some, there's nothing to stop you. But it won't do you any good. As I said, Formula 1 tyres need to reach an optimum temperature in order to function properly. And you can only do that if you drive (very, very) fast. Let's be honest, we doubt that your van can compete with Max Verstappen's Red Bull RB21.
12
Why do F1 tyres shine?
You've probably noticed that new Pirelli tyres have been shining particularly brightly since 2019. Why is that? Because of a manufacturing process that aims to remove all surface impurities. No, this is by no means an aesthetic decision.
Download the Red Bull TV app here for free to experience our videos, live streams and events from music and extreme sports on all your screens!
