Kumho to F1?

Fogelhund · 15 Sep 2004, 18:37 (Ref:1097521)

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100832

Quote:

Kumho, the South Korean tiremaker, has begun a Formula One feasibility study and might take a shot at Bridgestone and Michelin in 2007.

more at link.......

Kicking-back · 15 Sep 2004, 19:42 (Ref:1097571)

Lifted from last weeks Autosport, which covered the story extensively.

I believe we need one tyre manufacturer in F1, not three.

ASCII Man · 15 Sep 2004, 20:09 (Ref:1097597)

I'd rather see Yokohama or Goodyear in F1, to be honest...

jhansen · 15 Sep 2004, 20:20 (Ref:1097604)

I agree with you K-B. Improvements on the tire side is why we have seen the lap times fall so dramatically during this period of rules stability. I'm all for competition and variety in Formula 1, but a single make of tire would provide a much better base for competition. This season would have probably been much different with one tire make.

ASCII Man · 15 Sep 2004, 20:27 (Ref:1097610)

True, no tyrecompanies making tyres specifically for one team would level the playing field quite a bit.

Knowlesy · 15 Sep 2004, 20:45 (Ref:1097623)

Have Michelin supplying all the teams. Solves everything!

Kicking-back · 15 Sep 2004, 21:18 (Ref:1097662)

Exactly.

I'd put the tyre deal out to tender, and get a company to supply spec tyres to the whole field.

It would eliminate the need for a whole lot of testing too.

esorniloc · 15 Sep 2004, 21:23 (Ref:1097667)

Its great news that another tyre manufacturer is looking at F1.

Dov · 15 Sep 2004, 21:45 (Ref:1097691)

I heard that Kumho was interested in joining the CCWS?! Guess we'll have to wait and see.

BootsOntheSide · 15 Sep 2004, 21:46 (Ref:1097692)

KumWHO? The biggest tyre manufacturer you've never heard of?

A company like ths could be good to be the sole supplier actually, because it would cut costs and cut speeds all at once. The only issue is whether they could make safe tyres?

Kicking-back · 15 Sep 2004, 21:49 (Ref:1097695)

They're one of the biggest tyre makers in the world and already supply Euroseries F3 and Japanese GT.

If they were a spec-tyre supplier to F1, it would be just as safe as any other manufacturer.

BSchneiderFan · 15 Sep 2004, 23:14 (Ref:1097753)

I dislike the notion of anything about F1 being 'spec', and I'm afraid I have to include tyres on that list. Bridgestone, Michelin, Kumho, Pirelli, Yokohama, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental... come one, come all.

GP Racer · 15 Sep 2004, 23:22 (Ref:1097762)

Quote:

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
I dislike the notion of anything about F1 being 'spec', and I'm afraid I have to include tyres on that list. Bridgestone, Michelin, Kumho, Pirelli, Yokohama, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental... come one, come all.

I fully agree.

There is nothing else spec about this series, so why should the tires be? And if the tires become spec, than whats next, and where do you stop?

The more tire manufacturers the better. As a matter of fact, each team should have there own. That way, the tire manufacturer can work exclusively with just a single chassis/engine combo, and really get it right, something like Bridgestone does for Ferrari.

jhansen · 15 Sep 2004, 23:31 (Ref:1097768)

I understand that sentiment. But, there isn't a tire manufacturer's title is there? Are we more concerned as to whether Williams can make a good car, or can Michelin make a good tire? Likewise, is the F2004 really as good as it seems, or is Bridgestone the one making the large jump?

Personally, I'm more interested in the cars and the drivers, as that is what Formula 1 places an emphasis on.

And one tire manufacturer per team would be a bit costly I would think.

Fuzzyfelt · 16 Sep 2004, 01:17 (Ref:1097794)

Fantastic, I say!

I totally disagree with the idea of 'spec' tyres in Formula One. It's supposed to be about competition after all.

It's true that cornering speeds have become absurdly dangerous. But why scapegoat the tyre manufacturers? Take the

wings off the cars!!!

Chucky · 16 Sep 2004, 03:16 (Ref:1097835)

I normally abhor the idea of "spec" components but tyres are one thing that should be one make.

I also applaude Kumho for having a go at nearly everything at the moment. They already make a very competent F3 tyre (Euroseries, German F3 and Korean Super Prix, Macau(?)) and are at least showing a level of interest in motorsport that is seriously lacking in some big companies.

CleanTone · 16 Sep 2004, 07:47 (Ref:1097913)

How about as many tyre makers as teams? That would be awesome

MRJUCY · 16 Sep 2004, 08:25 (Ref:1097945)

I'd like to see as many tyre companies as they can get. F1 is all about pushing the envelope why not rubber as well & if there were more brands they could specialise on teams better or if you want to level things up make the tyre companies have to offer the same tyres to all teams & let any team run any tyre they want at each race.

shiny side up! · 16 Sep 2004, 11:42 (Ref:1098149)

Why do people like the idea of spec tires? I keep hearing to level the playing field... well, spec engines would do that, too! Or spec chassis. Or a spec driver!!!

I hope more tire manufacturers come to F1, and if a tyre championship evolves along with constructor and driver, then so be it! Right now, the WCC entries are names like 'BMW Williams' and 'McLaren Mercedes', why not 'BMW Williams Kumho' or 'McLaren Mercedes Michelin'???

f1manoz · 16 Sep 2004, 11:46 (Ref:1098152)

I don't know much about Kumho apart from what they supply. Are they a big company the size of Michelin and Bridgestone? Can they afford season after season of supply in F1?

Morris 1100 · 16 Sep 2004, 11:56 (Ref:1098162)

I don't know if Kumho is big enough for a long term F1 effort but good on them if they have a go!

The Koreans are working very hard to catch up on Japan.

darcym · 16 Sep 2004, 12:12 (Ref:1098179)

Whats peoples thoughts of the 94/95/96 seasons for example where goodyear supplied all.

Did that add/detract from the sport ?

Do you feel good year supplied Williams/Benetton with their own tyres and the lower teams had to make say "williams spec" tyres work on there car ?

I have to admit I don't think the tyres played as much a part in the racing in those years where it was more chassis/engine/driver, this year a duff can appears to get a turbo charged engine from the tyres. The racing at the moment seems all about the tyre.

Its an interesting debate.

Imagine if each team had its own tyre supplier

williams = Michallin
Ferrari = Bridgestone
Mclaren = good year
Sauber = Pirelli
Jaguar = dunlop
Toyota = Yokahama
Jordon = Avon
BAR = Continental
Minardi = the flintstones

that would be fair as it would be down to the team to work with its own tyre company to make a tyre that worked with the car - a real partnership, as opposed to "here sauber make this ferrari tyre work for you"

shiny side up! · 16 Sep 2004, 13:25 (Ref:1098254)

I find that whole "My times suffer horribly because the tires are designed for Ferrari and not me" line to be mostly

.

Michelin don't cater their tires to Renault, McLaren, Williams, or BAR... They come to each race with a few compounds and let the teams decide which to use. The teams certainly have input and develop new tires through testing, but by and large what is an improvement for Team A is an improvement for Team B as well.

T0MAT01 · 16 Sep 2004, 13:29 (Ref:1098260)

I think that if the tyres were made to last the entire race distance (200ish miles isn't exactly far for one set is it?) then the different tyres would be a lot more closely matched and the harder compounds would encourace sliding and hence improve overtaking and the show in general.

I dont mind how many suppliers there are but I don't like the way Ferrari get special treatment over other Bridgestone teams so perhaps tyre testing should be limited - which would also save money.

BIGMOUTH · 16 Sep 2004, 15:22 (Ref:1098361)

ain't gonna happen.

period.

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