What are the types of F1 tires?

Before we get started - check out how the entire F1 race works AND the details of the F1 pit stop where tires are changed in a race!

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What are the types of F1 tires?

F1 tires are supplied by Pirelli - a tire manufacturer that supplies a plethora of different tire compounds to each team.

What is a compound?

A compound is the type of material (in this case - rubber mixtures) that makes up the tire. Therefore, different tire compounds are used for different variables related to the track (I.e. weather and track temperature).

Entering a Formula 1 weekend, you will see and hear that teams have strategies that are planned around the type of tires they anticipate to use during the weekend. For example, a track that is notoriously HOT and taxing on the tires you'll hear the prediction of "2 stop strategy, probably with hards and mediums".

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F1 Wet Weather Tire Compounds

Obviously, the surface of the track will change when wet or actively raining. This happens a number of times throughout the F1 Season. Pirelli has made tires for these conditions that... frankly, every driver will have to use in wet conditions.

These tires are much more 'finicky' when it comes to the timing of the pit stop to change to wet weather tires. The timing has to be perfect or it will dramatically impact the speed of the car or turn the track into a 'slip'n slide'.

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How do F1 teams choose the tires to use?

While there are a number of factors that play into the use of Soft, medium, hard, intermediate, or wet tires - there are first a few facts to discuss:

1. Each car must run at least 2 different tire compounds during a race
2. The tires are not designed to last the entire race, even if this above rule wasn't in play
3. Pirelli chooses the 3 compounds that they think will suit the track best based on track data
4. Teams are given a limited number of tires to use throughout the weekend
   1. That being said, teams can and DO run 'used' tires

This is when strategy comes into play. To add another layer of complexity to tire requirements and allocations - drivers must 'return' two sets of tires that each of their drivers has used during EACH Practice Session. That means that in total for a standard weekend... they have just lost 6 tires from their limited allocation. Practice is, of course, important to collect data and test which compounds may work best for the race and qualifying strategies, but it does limit their tires for those all important sessions.

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Strategy During the F1 Grand Prix

Back to pit stops.... During a race, each car will 'box' or complete a pit stop and change to a different tire compound at least once.

So, let's say that a team starts with hard tires because its a longer circuit - at some point they will have to pit for medium or soft tires. This has to be timed PERFECTLY otherwise the softer compound tires can degrade and lose grip causing the car to slow down or need an additional pit.

Additionally, if a track is especially challenging, like the race is longer, the track is hotter, and the surface is not smooth - teams will opt for 2 pit stops and tire changes, rather than one.

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What is tire degradation?

Tire degradation (aka 'tire deg') is the process of the tires wearing down. This means that they're loosing grip and therefore speed because the rubber is becoming less structurally sound, 'grippy', or overheating. This is what I meant when I said that tires aren't meant to last the entire race - they degrade.

Here are some other terms to consider when talking about tire degradation:

Tire Warmer - Where the tire is kept before putting it on the car to keep it 'warmed up' and require less time for the driver to essentially break in the tires.

'Cold' Tires - This means what it sounds like - the tires aren't at the optimal temperature to have grip on the track.

Graining - The tires have overheated and essentially started pilling with marbles coming off.

Marbles - Parts of the rubber of the tires that have come off due to degradation.

Scrubbed tires- Used tires (they have often been scraped to take off any excess rubber).

Slicks - Tires with no tread that are completely smooth (i.e. the scraping above if used).

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