Oh boy... Tyres under investigation again

[Inigo Montoya]

http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/2...61437567.shtml

Summary: Both Bridgestone and Michelin tyres are under scrutiny after Monza GP. Michelin has asked for clarification of why there were blisters on the fronts, and not the backs on the Ferrari's, and the FIA wants to check that out, along with the usual tread width question for the Michelin.

It ain't over yet.

[shiny side up!]

Errr... it is very easy to blister a tire on one corner, end, or side of a car and not the others... I suspect Michelin is wondering if the compounds may be different front to rear, but I doubt it...

And I thought the FIA was over the treadwidth thing...

[Inigo Montoya]

Yes, that is what Michelin is wondering about. They have not yet released any statements outright accusing BS of any wrongdoing, but the article did say that "We are not yet preparing a dossier, but some of our engineers did note these anomalies in the Japanese tyres. For this reason, we have raised the question."

Might be usual Gazzetta sensationalism, but the story is worth keeping your eye on. Lets see if anyone else picks it up.

[Bononi]

It's a tyre war this season ! Who's cheating more !

[Adam43]

According to Autosport Michelin would question Bridgestone over potential irregularities and a potential asymmetric tread pattern. It is something along the lines that the wear of the Bridgestone's isn't symmetric so at the end of the race the tyre's grooves aren't centred on the thread.

It is hardly a great theory and it hasn't been expanded much. Of course there is little actual information from Michelin or Bridgestone so it is probably all a storm in a tea cup. And I wouldn't take it too seriously. I wouldn't read anything into it about Bridgestone cheating or Michelin being underhanded.

Perhaps it shows that everything is open to interpretation, but it doesn't show a lot more.

[Mark Webber]

this is far from over and the WDC WILL depend on it

[Jordi]

The thing is, if the wear of a tyre isn't symmetric, couldn't it be due to the camber/ other adjustments? (Just as in Michelin's case...)

[Snrub]

I'd certainly think so.

[RWC]

Yeah,i think so too about the camber

Can't blame Michy for wondering about the ferrari bridgestone compounds.They seem to have done it before and the fia haven't put in place any serious rules to stop it happening again.

You're right bononi!
One cheats outright with sustituted compounds,the other 'interprets' the rules for measuring legal width.It certainly aint over yet

[avsfan733]

well its simple, lets just ban tires, thats the direction we are headed in anyways

[webberisgod]

can we pls go back to slicks?

[climb]

As we say in Italy, who sows wind, harvests a tempest!
After the successful action taken by BS, it's clear that, since then, Michelin will make any attempt against them, whenever finding even the smallest element of suspicion; could we expect anything diff'rent?

[ASCII Man]

Originally posted by webberisgod
can we pls go back to slicks?

That won't make any difference, they can still complain about compounds and treadwidth with slicks...


Not that i don't want slicks to come back though!

[DriverT]

While we're at it, bring back qualifying tyres as well.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Jordi
The thing is, if the wear of a tyre isn't symmetric, couldn't it be due to the camber/ other adjustments? (Just as in Michelin's case...)

Yes that is the potential problem with the Bridgestone and the crux of this story.

They change through the race due to wear as a result of the camber.

[Glen]

I'm not sure they'll get very far with the symmetrical tread argument, because that is a factor that is clearly stated in the regs as being measured when new (unlike the total tread width, which is not at any specified time). What may well yield more is to dig up the dirt about mixed compounds front & rear on the Bridgestone cars prior to Monaco - I suspect that is what Williams are threateningto retaliate with.

[Led ZeppF1]

In English:

The FIA confiscates Bridgestone tires at the Monza Grand Prix

The tire war in Formula 1 is continuing fiercely both on the track an in the cabinets. The Michelin-group, which arrived to the Italian Grand Prix shaken by the commotion, has been quietly working on a strong counter-strike against Bridgestone and it's number one team Ferrari.
In Monza Michelin demanded the FIA technical representatives to confiscate a set of tires from both the competing Ferrari as well as their own team Williams.
The French manufacturer suggests that the American firm Smithers, which concentrates on advanced technology, would investigate the compounds of these tires.
According to the rules the rubber compounds must be same for the front and rear tires. Michelin has suspicions that Bridgestone may be using a harder compound in the front than in the rear tires.
Williams leader Patrick Head has already shown frustration over the fact that the FIA didn't confiscate the entire set, but that they only took a left front tire and a right rear tire. According to Head to get a conclusive result they would have needed both the front and the rear tires from the left side.
It is reported that as a back up plan Michelin has in their possession an already written protest against Bridgestone. It is based on the grooves on the Japanese manufacturers tires, which according to an investigation conducted by Michelin do not comply to the regulations after use, as they are no longer symmetrically placed along the tire, unlike required by the rules.
The head of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo is shaking his finger at the Michelin teams and confirms that his group has the opportunity until the end of November to raise dispute over the results of five Grands Prix this year over the issue of oversized front tires.

[Bononi]

Led ZeppF1, have you read the hot topic about posting articles ? If you don't provide a link to it, I'll be deleting it.

You have some time.

[Led ZeppF1]

Sorry Bononi, I had try to find the link, but I can't find it.

I just find the site:
http://www.turunsanomat.fi/f1/

[Led ZeppF1]

But, I found the similar story from www.gp2003.com (Our spies in Monza report).

Quote:
The FIA decided to confiscate one set from Ferrari and one from Williams for a check. The tyres were taken after Friday qualifying and sent to a special company in the States, where analysis on the compounds is done. The result is due to be published later this week.

[Adam43]

Thanks for the link Led Zepp and the translation.

As for the compounds, both should be OK. The Bridgestones have been fine since aorund Monaco IIRC.

[Led ZeppF1]

Well, according to F1live.com, Michelin engineers noticed that during private testing at Monza the front and rear Bridgestone tyres were wearing different.

"We have no case against Bridgestone," said a Michelin spokesperson. "but it is true that our partners noticed some anomalies on rival teams' tyres. We only mentioned this situation to the FIA."

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...19162717.shtml

[Adam43]

To be fair. I would expect the fronts and rears to wear differently, especially if they were he same compound.

However if the FIA are made to keep a close eye on all the tyres then fair enough too.

[tally-bally-ho]

Tyres are boring, why do we have to have 2 tyre companies in F1? All it does is add another technical obstacle to pure racing between drivers, oh, sorry, I forgot, we don't want pure racing between drivers do we? 1 tyre supplier with tyres drawn in a lottery is the fairest solution.

[Led ZeppF1]

Yup. Bring back slick tyres...